Why do women go to the restrooms in pairs or greater?
I think there are many reasons for this common behavior amongst my sisterhood.
--it's a cult gathering! (What else?!)
1. Group Mentality - Ultimately they go to the toilet together because women are social creatures. The toilet trips are a way to get away from the group to share information, giving an intimacy and privacy to that information
Men would do it as well, but there is a certain stigma attached to going off together to the toilet. Women do not have this stigma, simply because for us the restrooms is not just a place that you go to the toilet, wash your hands, and leave as soon as possible. The female restroom provides a haven where (apart from toilet and washed hands) we can check appearance, and if needs be reapply make-up etc. -
-the application of makeup is an exceedingly complex ritual. Not only does it take a great amount of fine motor skill, makeup application often requires the presence of at least one other woman. The second woman serves as a spotter, in case the first panics.
women are incapable of fixing their hair with the help of only a mirror; instead, we ask for the opinion of another woman who may or may not have good judgment. We do it anyway because she’s a “friend” and we (usually) trust her advice.
2.Social Reinforcement - As mentioned afore, women are social creatures, sometimes too social. So many times I have made the restroom trip with out a partner or posse and some strange woman always wrangles me into some uncomforatble conversation about her menses or life story. When you are in a pair or group, there is always someone to say "hey friend #1 we have to go to (insert place or event here)" It excuses you from the awkward conversation with out seeming like a jerk.
-we have an irrational fear that if for some weird reason we're locked in, we'll at least have a companion. (More kudos if the companion has a cell phone).
3. A friend in need- is a friend indeed! This issue is kinda universal, we have all been there before. Sitting on the toilet minding your business and OH MY GOD! where is the toilet paper!!! Oh yeah, it happens! When you have a friend, you have someone who can search the place to bring you much needed supplies. It is also comforting to have some backup in case the stall door is faulty, a friend will gaurd the door providing a relaxing, secure environment to "handle your affairs"
--we take inventory of our purse contents, rearranging everything in alphanumerical and chronological order. Twice. We do this partly out of sheer habit and partly to drive our dates completely insane.
