Well, to be fair, not all women give directions like that. But there seems to be a lot of truth to the fact that men use geographical directions, distances and the general landscape to orient themselves, whereas women tend to use specific points. And even *if* us men use specific points for orientation, we rather use electronic stores, home depot or gas stations. I found this one of the stereotypes that are absolutely true. Very much like the one about men never wanting to ask for the way.
Fortunately, with the advent of GPS, this potential source of stress and argument within relationships has almost disappeared! Although I have to admit that I am one of the few people who doesn’t like GPSs. I actually *enjoy* looking up the way on a map beforehand and then finding my destination the old fashioned way. Every once in a while I get lost, but fortunately I have a very patient and understanding wife.
Actually, it’s true. The book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” quotes several studies that proved women use landmarks, while men use maps, compass directions, etc. The best I thought, was that in England, researchers gave away 2000 south up maps of England, and something like 99% of the takers were women. Women had a difficult time with reading a map if they weren’t going “up”.
I think it was one of the Muppet movies where they were asking directions on a map, and were told, “Follow the blue road and turn down”.
Whenever asking for directions, I repeat “just the address please” and I figure out for myself how to get there. The one time I used GPS it sure got me to my destination, but I had no idea where I was. I need that birds eye view of where I am in time and space, and following instructions from a synthetic voice just doesn’t cut it.
I have a question for pilots: If suddenly given instructions to land at an alternate with a NDB or whatever that you were not prepared for, how do you follow directions from your chart? Do you look at your chart and memorize the plan with a birds eye view? Or do you just look at the chart and follow it as if it were a backseat driver?
Stef you don’t get “lost”. You get “Temporary Misplaced”.
“And even *if* us men use specific points for orientation, we rather use electronic stores, home depot or gas stations.”
And don’t forget that in many parts of the U.S., gun shops are considered a legitimate navigational landmark.
Am I the only woman who manages to get around just with the addresses?
Then again, the address system here in Guatemala is pretty much straightforward. If the address is, say, 8th Avenue 15-02, you know it’s at the corner of 8th Avenue and 15th Street 
Funny though, I have a male friend who fails at addresses. I have to tell him “drive straight for 5 blocks until you see such-and-such building, then turn left, drive 3 blocks, then turn right…”
My wife continually amazes me! If she drives somewhere once, she can always find her way back without getting lost. I seem to be better at finding new routes to the same destination. Between the two of us, we usually have no trouble navigating… well… usually…
Am I the only one to notice that Sally points the wrong way?
Well, the new boyfriend of my boyfriends mother (the hell is that complicated when people aren’t married) wanted to stop and ask because we were lost in Wiener Neustadt. In the end I was the only one who got the instructions right, even with never having been there, lol