It’s the age-old question: should men pay on a date? Traditionally the answer was straightforward: the men should, of course. But it doesn’t seem quite so simple nowadays. As the issue of equality becomes a more important one, for the men it’s a bit of a “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” conundrum.
Should men pay for dates?
Most of my female friends said they always offer to chip in on a first date, but feel somewhat put out if the man agrees because they like to feel spoiled and looked after. My male friends argue that paying makes them feel manly and protective but they are only happy to pay for the first few dates and then think the tab should be more evenly split. Confusing, no?
A recent study has shed some light on this tricky subject. It revealed that 75 per cent men pay for dates because they feel guilty taking money from a potential new girlfriend. However, 64 per cent wanted to split the bill.
The new research, based on data from more than 17,000 people and analysed by a psychologist at Chapman University in New York, said the trend did not stop after the initial few dates. Over 80 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women said that men still coughed up when they’d been going for a while.
That doesn’t mean the ladies were reluctant to put their hands in their pocket: 57 per cent offered to pay – but 39 per cent said they hoped the man would reject their offer.
Be warned ladies, half of men said they would stop dating a woman who never pays.
What do you think? Should men foot the bill for dates, or should women help cover the costs? Tell us @lovestruck
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