THESIS: Women enjoy getting ready more than they do going out.

As much as would love to see my sister nervous and awkward on a first date, I think the habits of a female prepping for that date are far more interesting. Today we will examine Mary as if she were a specimen to be observed for a thesis.

THESIS: Women enjoy getting ready more than they do going out.

OBSERVATION: The specimen is loving her hoop earrings. In the moment, she is pleased to match her silver belt to her silver jewelry. Will her date notice this detail? Only time will tell. On the bottom left hand corner of the photo, a CHI hair straigtener, only recently unplugged, lays forgotten by the specimen, who has used it and moved on.  She continues a process of repeated ritual preparations for her date, such as applying and reapplying makeup, styling and restyling her hair, and tucking and un-tucking her blouse. 

OBSERVATION: Now the specimen experiences bouts of panic and discomfort. Notice she has temporarily stopped fixing herself in the mirror, freeing her mind from busy work to actually consider whether she is ready to go on the date or not. At this point, the specimen is clear, she is not. 

OBSERVATION: The specimen continues to preen and thus falls back into the comforts of fixations, an act of survival. She knows of her long night ahead and cannot sweat the small stuff. Again, the specimen is loving those silver hoop earrings.

OBSERVATION: When does the specimen conclude ritualistic preparations for the date? It is in the moment whereupon the specimen finishes one ritual and stops long enough to look in the mirror to react with pleasantness instead of panic. As is the case, the specimen has concluded the fixation state and at this point has moved on to the presentation state or the 'look-at-me' state. Specimen leaves for date.

CONCLUSION: Specimen was hostile to further questions post-date and was clearly past it with a new-found confidence not observed the night before. Having claimed to have had a good date, it is with this and with the observations made the night before that I renounce my thesis. I conclude that women enjoy going out more than they enjoy getting ready because only in going out can there efforts in getting ready be validated.