So what exactly makes a pen a ladies pen, anyway? Is it the size of the barrel? The color? The length? The weight? The style? Or is it just that it is a ladies pen because a woman happens to use it? In a word, yes!
A pen must be comfortable in the writer’s hand. It must fit well, and feel right. It should inspire the writer, making the task easier. Many people do not write with fountain pens because they think it is too much bother to fill a pen, clean the nib, etc. They think fountain pens are old fashioned, outmoded, and impractical. They think that a fountain pen is just too hard to use, and are intimidated by the thought of using one. Many women (and men) fall prey to these myths, and I think they are losing out on a great writing experience by not trying to use a fountain pen. Fountain pens are just like any other writing instrument. With the right touch, and a bit of practice, a fountain pen can be just as easy to use as any other type of pen. I have used pens of every barrel size, length, and weight imaginable. Not all would be called ladies’ pens by any means. I write with the pen that I think will be comfortable for the task.
Some examples of pens that were/are marketed for ladies include the Sheaffer Lady Skripsert line of pens, the Greta Garbo pen by Mont Blanc, the Lady Fair line by Wearever, and the ici and la line by Waterman, to name a few. All of these pens have slimmer barrels, are lighter in weight, and are shorter in length. Geared toward smaller hands, it is easy to see women being more attracted to these pens.
However, as I said before, any pen that is comfortable in a woman’s hand is, in fact, a ladies pen. Do not limit your pen selection to those marketed just for women. Look at all examples before making a decision on a pen. You will find that the ladies pen you are looking for is the pen that is right for you!