I’d like to preface this by saying, I’m not the government, and I can’t regulate what you desire romantically. If you do hold a point of view that’s entitled, be my guest, but I want you to know it sets a bad precedent for your future relationships if you want an equal partner.

I’ve seen a lot of women say “You asked her out so you pay” and it logically doesn’t make sense if you want equality. If my male friend asks me to hang out, I don’t feel like he is obliged to pay for my dinner. Why is that? We have a symmetrically equal relationship where one part isn’t better off than the other. We equally enjoy each other’s company.

When women say “you asked her out so you pay” they are inferring that the relationship between the two is asymmetrical. The idea is “you [the male] want me [the female] more than I want you, therefore you pay”.

The only point in time you’d want an asymmetrical relationship is if you have something to gain from the other person.

Let me give you an example: I don’t mind paying for my boss dinner if we go out, because he will remember the kind gesture, and give me an easier workload, a promotion etc.

If you’re looking for a life partner in a monogamous, symmetrical relationship, it doesn’t make sense to start off with one person putting in more effort than the other by investing more money.