God Forbid If I Can Buy My Own Drinks

It's so refreshing to see such a young little thing so well trained in the tradition of sexism and chauvinism. Here's an opinion column by a college student on the changing roles of men and women.

The day men and women have the same level of power is the also the day when chivalry dies. Many women enjoy visiting bars and having men buy them drinks in exchange for a casual conversation. It seems that after all the work women put into getting ready for a night out, they won't compromise their ability to get free alcohol for the sake of self-independence.

Other women appreciate a man paying for dinner or movie tickets. But in a world where men and women see each other as equals, a man might not open his wallet and show a level of gallantry toward an intriguing woman.

Many of life's common courtesies would disappear if men and women were the same. Women would have to protect themselves and a lot of women would find themselves walking home alone instead of being escorted home by a man. A man's reflex to open a door for a woman would be replaced with the thought of her being comfortable enough to open the door for herself.

Just a few questions/comments:

• Women would have to protect themselves from whom?
  
• I didn't know men had natural reflexes to open doors. Many don't get the hint unless a woman (who actually does expect it) stands there waiting for him to do so.
  
• Drinks in exchange for conversation is called prostitution (in the strict sense of the word).
  
• I didn't realize that a man (or woman) paying for dinner was so crucial to the balance of power in a relationship (and refer to the item above).
  

Though I know many older men who still think like this, I still forgive this youngun for still having these notions in this day and age. Perhaps he'll find someone who will allow him to do all the things he listed above that validate his manhood. For the record, many women do pay for their own drinks and dinners because they know full well that many men ultimately expect some form of affection in exchange for him footing the bill. Most men tend to get the hint that if a woman pays for herself, he probably won't be getting none at the end of the evening. If they want to call it gallantry, that's fine. Women wising up over the past couple of generations, and seeing wining and dining for what it is, are hardly seeking equality. They are seeking to promote the notion that the honor of their company is worth more than a couple of drinks and a plate of food.