As I was sitting at Starbucks around 9 a.m. on a week day, sipping on Espresso shots the first thing I noticed was the intensity of the work all the baristas had to do especially during rush hour. I definitely have new appreciation for them since I watched them re-do orders left and right for some picky customers. As I shifted my focus onto my intended target; the “caffeine-addicts” I realized that Starbucks and every other coffee shop in the country is deeply rooted in our culture and defines, especially my generation. Starbucks is not only a place to take your coffee to go but also a social gathering for many; and mostly for women.
People were coming in and out of Starbucks and lines were going on forever. Men and women were rushing for work or any other time consuming activities. The scene slowed down as the day progressed and you could see the trends that occur in a coffee shop. Through careful observation I was able to spot out many interesting facts that I would not have thought about otherwise. For example, men observed the menu thoroughly before ordering a beverage but ignored their surroundings, and then ordered the simplest coffee drink whereas a woman would order soy instead of whole milk and it would usually be without whip cream. Also, when women see a friend at a coffee shop they are loud, smile and squeak while talking. Everything seems artificial and fake. They put on a smile that goes away as soon as her friends are behind her. She also looks over her shoulder, smiles if eye contact is made, turns around and writes something down. This particular woman was very sad the whole time she was sitting there, she was mostly staring off in the blank space but as soon as she saw her friends come over all of that disappeared and a wide smile took over.
Women sometimes exchange eye glances and smiles with the opposite sex which indicates initiative and awareness of their sexuality. It is a known fact that women of the past waited until they were approached by a male in order to have a conversation, and in my opinion that is a very radical step to sex equality. Women are breaking the social order and showing radical romance every day. People in groups usually sit outside, talk louder, smoke or talk on the phone.
The people who chose to stay in Starbucks and enjoy their coffee and pastry were mostly women. There were women working on their laptops, women reading novels or textbooks, women smoking, women catching up with friends, and some women simply staring into the blank space, drinking coffee and eating a small pastry. The coffee shop is a hang out spot for women. We catch up on gossip, share knowledge, and discuss relationships. It is in a way our sanctuary. Coffee shops represent a sacred place for women; if there were more men the innocence would not be preserved.
According to my observation women drink more coffee than men. Could that be true? Women need more caffeine then men? Men might come with a friend and purchase a coffee but it is in most cases to go. Men do not take the time to sit down and experience the goodness of coffee. This shows how different men and women are. It was evident that women were dominant in the coffee shop but why were men leaving and not staying inside for long periods of time? Maybe they felt out of place and threatened by all of the estrogen in the room but there was definitely a pattern that could not dismissed. This goes back to the question are men socially created or are they naturally exempt from eating/drinking in the establishment. Society believes that the man has to acquire all the masculinity and in a coffee shop the woman has overtaken that role and they feel emasculated. Culture stimulates women socializing in a coffee shop. The coffee shop is set up in order to help women relax and put them in a state where they feel confident. The setting is very well organized, the music is usually feminine and it has bright colors. But some examples point to nature as cause of that phenomenon. Men have a completely different mentality over where they should drink their coffee. Is it the conformity of the establishment, men do not like rules and the coffee shop could be seen as somewhat restrictive? Men rather be outside sitting under a tree or surrounded by a large group of friends while drinking coffee or eating lunch. You can even say that coffee is not the relaxing activity as women see it; it’s something that gets men through the day.
Observing such a common place for our society I was surprised by my discovery. I suppose we as a nation are more divided by gender that we realize and sometimes we do not even think about the consequences of such separations.
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