Shopping bag lady refers to a term used to describe a woman who regularly collects and carries numerous shopping bags, usually filled with various items, either while out and about or as part of her daily routine. The term often carries a negative connotation and is associated with individuals who may be homeless or suffering from mental illness.
The shopping bag lady is often seen as a marginalized individual who relies on the contents of these bags as a means of survival or as a way to cope with personal challenges. Typically, the bags contain personal belongings, clothing, food, and other miscellaneous items necessary for their daily living.
This term can also be used to describe someone who compulsively collects and hoards items, resulting in an excessive number of shopping bags filled with possessions. This behavior is characteristic of hoarding disorder and is often associated with emotional attachment to objects and difficulties in discarding them.
Additionally, the shopping bag lady can be utilized metaphorically to describe a person who carries emotional baggage or burdens from their past or present. This can encompass unresolved traumas, unresolved issues, or heavy emotional baggage that weighs them down in various aspects of their life.
Overall, the term "shopping bag lady" encompasses a range of meanings, from the literal act of carrying bags of possessions to symbolizing emotional struggles and personal challenges.
