It could, of course, work the other way round: that women are only forced to reluctantly carry handbags around because their clothes don't provide them with sufficient pockets. I only carry a handbag for less than half of my trips outside, and that's usually because I've deliberately chosen one big enough to carry a Kindle and a paperback book. If I don't need a book, I prefer to go without my handbag and use pockets for what I need.