Why would 22% of women buying roses on Valentines day buy them for themselves?

Question

VALENTINES DAY HOLIDAY STATISTICS
http://www.aboutflowers.com/press_b3b.html

For whom are they buying?

Men:

84% wife/significant other
4% Friend
4% Other

Women:

32% Mother
24% Signficant Other
22% Self

Notice how significant other is vastly above every other category for men and signficant other is only marginally above themselves for women..

And why are so many just buying flowers for themselves any way? Is this some sort of "romance masturbation" for lonely women? Why do they do it?

Apparently Blabla yaga has a masters degree in information management yet seems to link two completely different points with great frequency.

Fascinating article on correlation not equaling causation, but it's relevant umm how exactly?

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here, but wouldn't an information managment professional know how to keep completely irrelevant bunk out of a query?

Frankly I'm surprised we're not getting a wikipedia entry on 'roses' cut and pasted all over the answers here.

Someone's an "unemployed" information management worker if you ask me.

Answer 1

Cause they are pathetic! Next question.

Baba Yaga I see you have been brushing up on fallacies, every since your last meeting with me. You have even been attempting to adopt my 'Style' and some of my phrases. Yes, I've noticed. I am flattered Ma'am.

EDIT: Baba Yaga, though I can appreciate your attempt to use logic now, rather than name calling as you have in the past; the truth is you simply lack the aptitude for Data Analysis. No where in his post do I see Happy Bullet make the case that is correlation between as you put it 'unmarried women are lonely' and that they as a result bought flowers for themselves. In fact there is no mention of whether or not these women were single or not, only that they did not buy the flowers for a significant other, but rather themselves. No where in his post do I see Happy Bullet make the the claim that there is a correlation of .32 or .6 he does not use terms like 'when you isolate for all other variables or the like' Instead he poses a question of 'why are so many just buying flowers for themselves any way? Is this some sort of "romance masturbation" for lonely women? Why do they do it?' Perhaps you should familarize yourself with what the term correlation means, NOW(at long last) that you know that it does not necessarily dictate causation(we're happy for you). Here is a link for you Ma'am http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation
Dare I say Baba Yaga, you are OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE

Seriously, all statistics aside, Married or Single, buying flowers for yourself FOR ANY reason is a pathetic act. Hence They Are Pathetic.

EDIT: Baba Yaga I hate to be a quibble, but as they say "by your standards shall you be judged.' The word obSessed is nof Spelled obCessed in any variant of the English language. Do not again criticiZe or criticiSe, MR Q or Smailly until you can first get spelling right yourself.

EDIT: the whole article is Flowers on VALENTINES DAY not flower buying in General. Since you didn't bother to READ the question I'll qualify Seriously, all statistics aside, Married or Single, buying flowers for yourself FOR ANY reason(ON VALENTINES DAY) is a pathetic act. Hence They Are Pathetic. I thought the fact that these were VALENTINES flowers was obvious. ~rolls eyes~

Answer 2

The results I think reflect the social realities some women have. Flowers are often a lovely short term gift that can brighten a person's day so many women will buy flowers for themselves as a decorative treat. That being said flowers have become stereotyped as a "girl gift" and so I would say that most women would not think of purchasing one for a male significant other. Even in the numbers you quoted, most women purchase flowers for other women... their mothers.

I'm sure if you looked up the purchasing history of those who buy "ties" for example you would probably see more equitable numbers because although men may purchase ties for themselves, it has the reputation of being a generic "boy gift" (being something that men wear much more than women) and so women will buy them for men at much higher rates than for other women or even then men may buy for themselves.

Some individuals, myself included, view valentine's day as a day to celebrate love, including self love, rather than the limited commercial view of the holiday. So it has been my tradition to not only purchase gifts for those I am in a romantic relationship with, but also other close relationships, and always a small gift for myself.

Answer 3

I remember old Valentines Days and maybe buy some candy for myself. Happy Valentines Day!

Answer 4

Because women love to shop. Personally, I use that day as another excuse to go shopping and buying new things and what way better to end such hard work than to take home something so beautiful as a rose! ( or a hansom man, but still, can't have It all)

Answer 5

Hmmm. Here's an interesting statement from Michael"

"Seriously, all statistics aside, Married or Single, buying flowers for yourself FOR ANY reason is a pathetic act".

Wow. While I don't buy myself flowers for Valentines day, I do go to the market and buy fresh flowers for my home (and myself!) on a regular basis. They look beautiful, and they smell exquisitely fragrant. Pathetic you say? No, "pathetic" is your ignorant and lackluster attitude.

Answer 6

They probably want people to think someone else bought them those flowers, and they want to drop heavy hints that others should follow suit and buy them flowers as well. Now if we are talking about a non holiday, then I would say its perfectly normal for a woman to buy fresh flowers for her home in order to brighten the atmosphere.

Answer 7

It's been my experience that men don't like flowers...I bought them for my husband one year, and while he was appreciative, he seems to appreciate the more "thoughtful" gifts I give more. Flowers are a pretty generic, "Didn't put much thought into it" kinda gift. I usually buy my husband his favorite cologne for V Day, or an expensive tie...last year I gave him a cashmere overcoat. I try to think of extravagant things that he wants/needs but would never buy for himself.
And why do women buy roses for themselves? To make themselves feel special, to "pamper" themselves, I guess...I've never known a woman who did this, though.

Answer 8

Geez, who cares? Maybe they want roses and don't want to wait for someone else to buy them for them. Maybe they just LIKE roses. Besides, how many men would actually like getting flowers from their girlfriend?

Answer 9

It's either a sort of self-reward or these women are just desperate.