Aussie Dating Columnist Says Men Should Always Pay On The First Date
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An Australian dating columnist and radio producer has divided opinion after declaring men should always pay on the first date.
Traditionally, men have forked out the cash on their first date with a potential partner, yet more recently splitting the bill has become more popular.
However, one woman believes we need to get back to the old ways.
In a column for News Corp, Jana Hocking said it's 'assertive' and 'manly' when a bloke forks out for the whole bill and feels it's a massive 'turn on'.
She wrote: "You know straight away if the guy goes Dutch then he is more than likely not very interested in the date going further.
"Let's end this debate once and for all and just say, blokes pay for the first date! It's hot, it's manly, and will have us bragging to our friends."
Jana admitted it's acceptable to split the bill if you don't believe the date is going to go any further, however, if you're keen on the person sitting across from you then it's best to reach into your pocket.
She added: "I also clearly remember being on a date with a guy I thought I might quite like, but when he really stared at my purse as the bill came and wouldn't even reach for his own until I had placed my card on the bill tray first.
"It left a bad taste in my mouth. Would he always be like this? Counting his pennies."
She encouraged blokes to get creative with date ideas if they couldn't afford a fancy dinner and suggested hitting a pub's happy hour if it meant they could pay for the whole whack.
Jana even got a biological anthropologist to back her up.
Helen Fisher told news.com.au: "Women want to know if a man will spend his resources on her. For millions of years they needed a partner to provide for their young, and they keep looking for that signal."
Understandably, the article has sparked debate about whether Jana's beliefs are correct.
One woman disagreed with her, writing: "I'd rather pay for my own, if they insist then I'd insist on picking up the bill for the next date. If I knew there wasn't going to be a second date, I'd still hand over my share of the cost."
Another said: "The person who asks for the date should pay. You're offering to take them out. You're asking them to accompany you. Take gender roles out of this equation."
