It seems like a normal social conditioning that men should always pick up the tab in a relationship. I grew up with this conditioning but recently, I have found myself questioning the grounds for it. In our normal societal context, when a man and a woman go on a date for the first time, the man should pick up the tab. If the relationship progresses beyond the initial stages of 'introduction' and becomes a friendship, society suggests that the man should continue to pick up the tab. Now it gets more interesting... when the relationship becomes a courtship, the man is still expected to continue to pick up every single tab... and I have to wonder... do men pick up the tabs for the rest of their lives?
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This is my belief: in our emerging society, some basic rules must still apply. Surely, when a man invites a lady out on a first date, he should pick up the tab, and while he tries to woo her, he should pick up the tab. However, once it becomes a full relationship with proper commitments and no games, the lady should aim to pick up the tab once in a while. Why should she? Simple! The man works just like she does, and I can bet you there are 1001 other things he would rather do with his money. If he is offering to take you on a date to spend time with you, it would not hurt for you to pick up the tab to show him you appreciate his thoughtfulness.