I won't let go of my wallet!
The columnist's wishlist has had a Kelly-Bag or a Birkin-Bag on it for ages. Sadly, her husband frequently shows her a bird instead. The more budget-friendly Svenja-Bag, however, is within her reach and she can purchase it herself. It's currently trending, thanks to a certain Minister Schulze.
Let's talk handbags. We've got the Birkin-Bag, the Kelly-Bag, and now the Svenja-Bag. It's not from Hermès, isn't as pricey as a second-hand car, yet it's making waves. It's not just about the physical space, you see. The Svenja-Bag can hold more than just lipstick, a phone, and a protein bar (just like how women claim to carry around 20 to 30 small items other than their sewing kit, band-aids, small deodorant, phone cable, notebook, pen, mattifying powder, hairbrush, you get the idea).
But why this sudden fuss about a mid-range handbag? And before you ask, yes, you probably did have to Google who Svenja Schulze is. She's Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. She's currently in Pakistan, checking out textile factory conditions.
Top secret!
Things went well with her visits, as her agenda was likely confirmed beforehand. It's safe to assume that Pakistan's factories were well-prepped for her visit. So, the working conditions in Pakistan are probably not as terrible as they're made out to be, and women are well-treated.
But one incident did occur. When Schulze attempted to enter the Prime Minister's palace with her Svenja-Bag, the security guards raised an objection. They didn't know it was a Svenja-Bag and the minister was carrying confidential documents and personal items worth about €500. But let's not sidetrack this - who is willing to give up their handbag to a stranger, especially when they're carrying documents about supply chain laws and refugees from Afghanistan?
"Handbagging" at its finest
You may be wondering, would they ask a minister to give up their briefcase? Or a king or a princess? No, because it's rude! Presidents, chancellors, and ministers are not asked for their personal items, they are not searched. But did people genuinely think they could do this to Svenja Schulze? Or did they suspect unauthorized items or notes? Or did they simply not recognize the woman in front of them?
Hillary Clinton once told "Harpers Bazaar" she loves her pink Ferragamo bag. "It's just the desire to organize and hold together what's important in daily life." That pink bag, an extravagance of the former US Secretary of State, was perhaps a sign that women had truly arrived in politics. The first British Prime Minister had paved the way: Margaret Thatcher would place her "Asprey" bag on the cabinet table every time, signaling "The boss is here!" This bag became almost a feared statement, the term "handbagging" found its place in history thanks to the "Iron Lady" as a sign of assertiveness.
Back to Svenja Schulze: A journalist captured the scene on the red carpet in Pakistan. He was naturally asked to stop, so the footage is a bit shaky and mostly headless, but we can still make out Svenja Schulze quickly turning around on her medium heel and walking away. "I have my personal belongings in here," she reportedly said, according to ZDF journalist Andreas Kynast, holding up her bag. But the Pakistani security personnel was firm. When they made it clear to the SPD politician, "Minister or bag," Schulze walked back to her car with her head held high.
1-0 for Svenja
After a brief exchange with the security personnel, they reluctantly let Svenja Schulze and her Longchamp into the palace.
Inside, things seemed friendly: The meeting with Sharif was constructive and fruitful, according to journalist Kynast, citing the German delegation, with Sharif using his German skills and being a warm, attentive host. That's nice. At least we won't have to Google Svenja Schulze again. And no woman should ever be asked to give up her handbag.
PS: Did you know that women spend an average of 76 days of their lives digging through their bags? It seems like a lot, but it's not all bad, as you find so many things. Men will never understand, but handbags are simply the portable form of women's emancipation, as they represent a woman's mobile living space. It's even scientifically proven (as per a study by economist Dr. Ute Rademacher): The more women left home and hearth to enter the workforce, the more important the bag became as a transport vehicle, emergency kit, and financial hub. And today, with a phone, files, and laptop inside, it's no less than a command center. And which man would let that be taken from him?
The Svenja-Bag, gaining popularity due to Minister Schulze, is challenging the luxury market with its trendiness and affordability. Even in high-security situations, women hold onto their handbags as symbolic of their independence and personal space.
