Argument Erupts After TikToker Makes Viral Video Questioning Why Couples Should Split Bills For Lunch
This etiquette question divides humanity—and could result in a couple’s first row. And possibly their last if precautions are not taken.
When you go out on a date, who should pay for the meal? Which comes first, the man or the woman?
Should you go Dutch, or should the woman insist on paying half the bill even if the man offers to pay the rest? This is a frequently asked question that elicits a variety of responses.
Traditionally, in some societies, a man’s role in life was to earn a living and provide for his family, while a woman’s role was to look pretty, have children, and do the cooking and housework. And, at a time when women's access to careers and money was far more limited, it was more likely that a man could afford a meal at a restaurant.
Today, such sex-based stereotypes and assumptions are widely condemned—and rightly so. Women demand equality in almost every aspect of their lives (childbirth excluded anyways).
But if women demand equal access to careers and promotions as men and expect equal pay, isn't it unfair to expect the man to pay for lunch or dinner every time they go out on a date? Some feminists often argue that women should insist on paying half or even all of the bill.
This emphasises that women no longer want to be dependent on men, and it also helps to signal that "favors" from women cannot be purchased for the price of a meal or anything else meagre.
The TikToker says that she “occasionally” goes on Venmo to see the transactions that show up in her feed
@jacklyn.fitRomano Jacklyn (@jacklyn.fit), a TikToker, recently posted a video describing how she saw a girl using Venmo to pay her boyfriend for a "cheesesteak." In the video, she says she "occasionally" checks Venmo to see what transactions have appeared in her feed.
It "cracked" her up that the boyfriend couldn't afford to pay for his girlfriend's cheesesteak. "I prefer being single because you all are so embarrassing," she captioned the video.
The video is captioned, “I prefer being single bc yall r embarrassing" and you can watch it below
But, if I may, what about romance and the thrill of "spoiling" your woman or man? Women undoubtedly want equality, but do they want to extinguish romance in the process?
If a man thinks it's romantic to pay for his own meal, shouldn't he be allowed to do so without causing a squabble? Obviously, this is one of those debates that will not be resolved anytime soon.
People online went straight to the comments section to drop their opinions about the video
Megan DeHartNot in this economy
paulineWhat's right for their financial situation
Anish PatelThe video has garnered over 934,000 views of late, with users arguing in the comments whether it's "embarrassing" to split the bill or reimburse their partner. Many tick-tockers voiced their opinions.
Some ticktockers chastised Romano for "judging" the relationships of others, pointing out that not all couples are financially secure. Scroll down to see more of their responses.
Others commenters has similar interesting stories to share
Samiyah loveAn ex this commenter couldn't get over
jessVenmo each other 8 times in a day
ekc
While some just asked why people even cared
Janie Kim
We obviously don’t see this argument ending anytime soon. But while this argument lingers, couples shouldn’t hesitate to love and care for themselves, and it really doesn’t matter who pays the bill, provided nobody is being manipulated.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
