While I don’t personally carry one, I appreciate that they give women an opportunity to show off their fashion sense. It also gives them somewhere to put, keys, ID, lipstick and seemingly everything in the known universe. I swear if Superman went up against a woman carrying a purse, he would probably flee for his life because he’d be absolutely sure kyrptonite is in there somewhere. Oh! It can also serve as a weapon to fend of would-be attackers (thinking of Ruth Buzzi in Laugh In)