Why do women take so long in the bathroom?

How is it that the female restroom lines are a mile long and the males are just walking right in and out at public places? Why is it that when we have a "special" night planned it takes the male maybe a third of the time to get ready? What could females possibly do in one little room for that length of time? I've done a little research on this topic and have asked many friends what their thoughts on the matter were and here's what I have come up with.

When asked about what really takes so long in the bathroom these are the answers I got from the single females.

• Sitting in there trying to figure out how to get rid of a bad date!
• Make sure their hair is perfect.
• Putting on or reapplying their makeup.
• They could be vain and like to check themselves out in the mirror.
• All the under garments...and then have to hike all that mess back up.
• We don't drip and dry or shake we wipe until dry.

Mothers of young children are a completely different story. Most of these women don't go into a bathroom to make sure they are cute and that every hair is still in place. These women take so long for these reasons

• Kids need to use the bathroom
• Kids are wearing dirty diapers and need to be changed.
• Rummaging through the diaper bag to find things for the baby.
• Changing a kids clothes.
• Blowing kids noses.
• Washing poopy baby in the sink.
• Washing baby's poopy clothes in the sink.
• Needing to get away from the kids so they lock themselves in the bathroom.
• The bathroom is the only place to relax.
• To enjoy the aroma of a nice hot bath.

There are so many different responses that two category's just didn't fit it all in. These are the other responses I got from a wide variety of women.

• We actually wash our hands!
• Cleaning out our purses
• Changing clothes
• Talking on our cell phones because it is quieter in the bathroom.
• Having conversations with our friends.
• Talking to total strangers.
• Cleaning our contacts
• Washing our feet, hair, clothes in the sink.
• Blowdrying or curling hair.
• Brushing our teeth and gargling.
• Singing.
• Crying.
• A quiet place to give yourself an insulin shot without being stared at.

And of course there is always the tinkle, tinkle, tinkle (isn't that what they were in there for in the first place?)

Stephanie says "If I'm in there a long time it's usually to relax. A nice hot bath and a cold beer. Or else, damn, it just takes us longer to pee then men."

Sjarina says "I take my time because that is the only child free room in the house."

Natasha says "it depends on what time of day. Mornings I move slow and I'm not motivated. I usually spend too much time playing words with friends while I get ready. IN the evening it's for the silence and aroma of a nice hot bath. Aroma of raspberry or lavender, epsom salt and hot water just melt away the stress. The other piece is a woman has to look good and there are lots of steps you have to take to do that - wash, dry, straighten, applying chemicals, applying beauty products - and then you remember I don't just look good for a living and you rush to get dressed and run out the door."

Louise says "It is the only place I can go to and have complete privacy, so I take as much time as I can get away with."

Jeannie says "I always end up having to change the toliet paper roll,cleaning off the sink, brush my hair, wipe off the base bored cause when your sitting there you notice the spot on the wall or hair on the floor so i can't just wipe and leave. In public restrooms- because it takes time to cover the seat FULLY with toliet paper cause ewww you sure don't want someones yuck on your butt then the toliet paper is sooo cheap every square rips and then you pray it don't flood cause you used a pile of tissue to wrap the toilet seat."

My thoughts "I have a 6 foot bathtub in my bathroom. That basically sums up why I take so long at home. In public it takes me forever because I have three small children. None of which can go into the bathroom alone. They are to old to go in the same stalls (unless the handicap one is open) and then it's hurry up and wait while each one takes their turn. Then it's washing hands and drying hands and getting the toilet paper and paper towels off the bottom of their feet and in the trash, just to wash my hands again."

Bonnie went ahead and wrote a book for me -

"If I'm using a public restroom I have to find a place to hang my purse. No way will I set it on the floor, that has had who knows what on it. If there is a sturdy coat hanger in the stall - that's GOOD. Or maybe there is a place on the back of the stool to set it. Most places anymore don't have that. So............no place to hang it, no place to set it............. you have to hold it while you are trying to undress, do your thing and re-dress. If it has a long handle you can hang it over your neck. If it's a shorter handle you can hold onto it with your teeth, or under your chin, or try to sandwich it under your arm - all the while doing your thing. Maybe you can stuff it inside your zipped up coat. Now try to undress and redress with your longer coat zipped up to protect that purse. And my purse is never a little one -- it's always rather large and stuffed to the enth degree with all sorts of 'essentials'.

Also, it never fails - you can't find the end of the toilet tissue up inside one of those big plastic monster holders that must be meant as deterrent from those who think toilet tissue is too high priced anymore. You never know which way it is rolled -- it's not just a matter of over the top, or under the back (like my sister insists on). PS after she pays a visit to your home you can bet that she's changed the way the toilet paper rolls. Love ya Sis. Most commercial establishments have the ones that roll to the right, or roll to the left, and you can't see up inside. You feel around, rip off the edges, maybe get enough to use for your little job. And if really lucky it will come off the roll as it should.

Then once the dirty deed is done try to figure out how to flush it. Oh some flush for you - sometimes many times before you are even finished - you wonder who might be pushing the button for you. Others might have a dinky little black button on the wall -- nothing written on it of course. Appears to be a little light diode or motion detector - sometimes it is. Heaven forbid that all bathrooms would have a universal flusher mechanism.

Then, there's the lavatory. I don't get along well with the automatic ones that are supposed to see you coming and start spouting water just at the right time. They never work for me. So there I stand waving my hand at the contraption, my arm, my handbag - anything I can think of to try to get it's attention. If there's a little kid around just ask them to turn on the water -- they always seem to know how -- or have the right wave, wink or whatever it takes.

We'll skip the drying. By the time you've finished with all the rest it's just easier to shake off whatever water you can, and wipe your hands dry on your pants."

There you have it. Many different reasons why women take so long in the bathrooms. It's not just one thing, it's normally multiple reasons we are in there a while. Whether it's doing the deed or just taking a break, give us a moment. We'll be back out eventually.

Hopefully you enjoyed my hub. Do you have any other insight about it? I would like to know Men's opinions on the subject too. Feel free to comment!