WHY THE MAN PAYS

When I got single again I started asking why, when a man and a woman go
out, the man is expected to pay for everything. Virtually all of the women
I've been with kept a tight lid on their purses and never, or almost never,
did I see any cash or credit cards hit the table. This, while my own wallet
seemed to be continually opening and emptying. The average "date" might
cost $50.00 to $100.00.

The obvious first answer I had to consider was tradition. That's just the
way it's done. Not good enough. I'm a veteran of "women's lib". I have to
ask these questions.
The next likely explanation is because men have more money. Hmm. Not sure
that's always true and even when not, the purse stays shut. I started
asking around.

One thing I've learned is that, if a woman has any pretensions to glamour,
she's spending a lot on it. Clothing is more expensive for women. They
need more outfits. And shoes! And purses! Then add make-up, hair, etc.
You're talking serious bucks!

But when I asked my nineteen year-old niece, she told me she shares all
expenses with her boyfriend and is as likely to pay as he is. Haven't heard
that one from anyone else.

One of my girlfriends gave me the most sophisticated answer. Since the
woman does most of the work in a relationship once they're well established
as an item, the man has to show her how much she's worth to him before
they're established. And continue showing it by paying without complaining.
One of my single buddies might have given me the real answer but I'm not
sure it's politically correct. If you plan to stay "just friends", the
woman can pay her share of the freight. Otherwise, if you're gonna play,
you gotta pay.