Women Should Be Allowed To Pay For Dinner....

After her interview with @FacebookHQ, Emma Watson revealed she loved chivalry, "but women should be allowed to pay for dinner". This has sparked a debate as to whether feminism is only one dimensional and has not yet expanded into every area of our lives. It made me wonder, although women should be allowed to pay for dinner, do we REALLY want to? I mean we've all rallied together in the name of feminism to fight for the equal rights of women, however do we really want feminism to effect the "perks" of being a woman? Do we really want to split the dinner bill in half, all to satisfy the principles equality. I think not! I'm drawn to believe that women want to have the ability to pay for the bill without actually paying for it. We want the freedom to open our own doors and push our own chairs under the table, but enjoy it being done for us. I think this begs the question are women really ready for an equal society?

For example, a friend of mine was asked on a date for Valentine's Day, (you can imagine her excitement) only to be told she has to pay for dinner and he'll pay for the hotel. She was absolutely disgusted. She went on the date assuming that he was joking. When the bill came they stared at each other with an awkward silence. He slid the bill towards her, to save herself any more "embarrassment", she reached into her purse and quickly paid for the bill. Less than 24hrs later she asked him for her money back (I'm sure you all know the status of that relationship). With all this being said, my friend considers herself an active feminist. Someone who stands up for the cause of equal rights and opportunities for women. But can she really call herself a feminist? Do her actions not make her just as guilty of inequality as a man that believes a woman is not worthy enough to be a manager?

I think most of us have been so focused on the battle of feminism that we have neglected to think about the aftermath of winning the war of equality. We have to be prepared to accept it when men use the equality card on us too. They may ask us to change a tyre or take them out on an anniversary date, who knows. I definitely don't. But what I do know is thats it's time for the conversation to start. Just think, if women become the leaders in equality and collectively practice what we preach then others will have no option but to follow. 

1. Feminism - is a collection of movements and ideologies that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment.