Why ladies keep big nails?

I dont see how some of these women with huge long nails even function! I don't try to grow mine out, but if I did I never could because I break them off every day at work. When you use your hands a lot I dont see how you can grow nails. Of course, a lot of those monster nails are fake, but still, if they worked like I worked they'd be popping those nails off too.