Males 'Should Foot First Date Bill'

Equality – a word that has caused many a row. Women want it, men loath it but it is here to stay. It seems however, that many women expect less than equal treatment on a first date.

While many women say they are advocates for equality this does not apply to the tradition that men have always been stuck with the bill when dating. According to recent research the battle of the sexes still wages on when it comes to who pays for what.

Around 54 per cent of the people asked think that men should pay for proceedings on a first date. Just one percent said they believed that the woman should pay for the first date. The survey was commissioned by a private bank. The company's head of marketing, commented that "communication is the key" to the issue.

"With over 44 per cent of couples arguing over the issue of finance; communication and setting simple ground rules and boundaries early on can help avoid pitfalls later in a relationship," she said.

It seems there is also a geographical divide as well as a gender one. People in the North are more likely to split the bill on a first date whereas men from the Midlands will more often pay for everything. However, men in Scotland were the least likely to pay for anything. So perhaps if you are looking for love your choice of partner could depend on where they come from.

However, when out with friends nearly half say they will split the bill. This means that you are more likely to spend more money with friends if you are a girl than if you are out with a man on a date.

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