Women are meant to be the experts at shopping—but new research reveals the whole experience leaves them flustered and stressed.

The surprise findings emerged in a study of 2,000 people and shows that not all women get “retail therapy”2 from a spot of shopping. In fact, in a supermarket environment, one third of females get themselves into a complete flap3 when they do the weekly shop.

And this is despite being organised and armed with shopping lists, money off-coupons, tissues, vouchers and recycled carrier bags.4 In contrast, three quarters of men quite enjoy their food shopping experience and are happy to navigate5 their way around the aisles searching out products. Men are less forgetful about what they want to buy, are less likely to feel rushed by the cashiers and are more methodical at the checkouts.6

Helen Nunn, Head of Marketing at The Co-operative Food which commissioned7 the research, said: “We suspect one of the key reasons why women are more agitated8 in the supermarket is largely because they are rushing round trying to conduct the shopping as quickly as possible. Doing the food shop will be one item on a massive list of jobs, and something which simply has to be done at speed. Men seem to adopt a much more laid-back9 and methodical approach, taking their time looking for bargains and make sure theyre getting the most for their money.”

The survey shows two thirds of females dislike battling10 the crowds in the supermarket to get at what they want. And 34 percent hate it when other peoples children get in their way. Four in 10 women cant stand feeling rushed when the cashier scans items too quickly so they struggle to get everything into the right bags. And 35 percent claim they are shocked every time they reach the till11 and realise how much they have spent.

But the poll suggests women are the savvier shoppers—as they are less baffled by all the different brands in the shop and are more likely to ask for help if needed.12

1. flustered: 激動不安的，慌張的。

2. retail therapy: 購物療法（多形容女士，指購物令她們開心）。

3. flap: 激動，慌亂。

4.盡管已經(jīng)井井有條，帶上了購物清單、減價優(yōu)惠券、紙巾、代金券和環(huán)保購物袋（但女人們還是會覺得手忙腳亂）。

5. navigate: 行進于，走過。

6. rushed: 被催促的；cashier: 收銀員；methodical: 辦事有條不紊的；checkout: （超市的）付款臺。

7. commission: v. 委托進行。

8. agitated: 激動的，不安的。

9. laid-back: 從容的，悠閑的。

10. battle: v. 奮力打開（一條路）。

11. till:（柜臺中）放錢的抽屜。

12. savvy: 精明的；baffle: 使困惑，難住。