Around 42 per cent of those surveyed also said that someone looking in their bag is as invasive as reading her personal emails or text messages.
But what about the male perspective on women's purses? The survey further revealed that men reported a mixture of afraid, intimidated and nervous about its contents. Additionally, one in five British men never considered to take a peek inside one.
The top 10 handbag essentials are:
Money or cards - 72 per cent
Painkillers - 58 per cent
Make up bag - 54 per cent
Sunglasses - 40 per cent
Feminine products - 38 per cent
Diary or address book - 33 per cent
iPod or mp3 player - 20 per cent
Chocolate - 10 per cent
Toilet roll - 8 per cent
Underwear - 4 per cent
