Yahoo News First Dates sparks gender equality row over who should pay for dinner
Gender equality was the topic of debate during Monday night's (December 17) riveting episode of First Dates, after a female hopeful expected her male date to buy her dinner.
Despite saying she doesn't expect a man to pay for her, Bianca clearly wasn't thrilled when Daniel asked to split the bill.
Well, this isn’t awkward whatsoever #FirstDates pic.twitter.com/L7U7RxMWlp
- Channel 4 (@Channel4) December 17, 2018
Related: First Dates touches viewers with lovely moment of LGBTQ+ acceptance
Bianca subsequently said that she didn't want to see Daniel again because she's looking for someone "generous".
But viewers argued it's perfectly normal for a man and woman to split the bill on a first date, especially if you don't want to see them again.
In this day and age a woman can pay her own share. If she turns him down based on that he has dodged a bullet. #FirstDates
- Jen (@jenniejojo) December 17, 2018
❌ 100% the first date should be 50/50.
Why would you buy someone else’s food you don’t know and may not see again.
Women always seem to expect the man to pay 🤬 #FirstDates no wonder they’re single.- Ray (@raybomb85) December 17, 2018
Just watched a woman kick off on #FirstDates bcos a man wanted to split the bill... how can women nowadays scream & shout about equal rights but still expect men to pay for you!!!! If a man offers to pay its polite but DO NOT just expect it and ALWAYS offer to pay as well!
- Shannon Courtenay (@scourtenay) December 17, 2018
Lady on #FirstDates who said she’s more than happy to pay for herself but then chose not to see the guy again because he wasn’t generous enough to pay for her food... hmmm.
- Gaz (@garethsmith81) December 17, 2018
Why should the man, on a hetero first date, be expected to pay for the meal, especially if he's not interested in seeing the woman for a 2nd date? A sexist expectation really. #FirstDates
- Yoyo ♀ 🌱🌾🍰🌿 (@YoyoS29) December 17, 2018
#FirstDates I’m always disappointed when the woman expects the man to pay! He has 3 children to pay for & might not have lots of spare cash 🙄
- Tracy (@TracyPadders) December 17, 2018
One viewer tweeted: "Going halves on a first date is not a big deal. The woman should at least offer to pay her share and if the guy wants to cover the whole bill then he’ll tell her not to worry about it. It saves having that awkward moment when the waiter presents the bill."
While another wrote: "Why should the man, on a hetero first date, be expected to pay for the meal, especially if he's not interested in seeing the woman for a 2nd date? A sexist expectation really."
However, there were some viewers who agreed with Bianca's sentiments, but still thought it was wrong to expect a man to pay.
As a man on a 1st date, I think you should always pay. It’s a gesture and a gentlemanly thing to do.
However... When she’s ‘expecting’ you to pay for everything, that speaks volumes about her.
She could of made the gesture of going for a drink after. She didn’t.#FirstDates- GR2 (@bobbafett77) December 17, 2018
I don’t think I’ve ever let a woman pay for a meal apart from my mum when I was a teenager or going through Uni. However it’s a 100% turn off when I see or hear women act out like that. I think it’s really the minority these days though. He dodged a bullet for sure #FirstDates
- KAY (@THEFURY01) December 17, 2018
First Dates airs Monday nights at 10pm on Channel 4.
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