The ‘new’ rules for dating

The successful 1990s manual on how to win a husband by being passive aggressive has been upgraded for the digital age. It’s still sexist and insulting, says Suzanne Harrington

THE goal of the 1990s dating manual, The Rules was to lure a man into marriage. The ‘rules’ included never phoning a man, hanging up first, and never being available for dinner, unless it was a Saturday night, and then only if he had asked you before Wednesday. ‘Insights’ included: “Men like women who are neat and clean ... they make better mothers. Men like women ... who wear sexy clothes. Why not please them? Remember, you’re dressing for men, not other women, so strive to look feminine. Grow your hair long. Wear a short skirt.”

The Rules told women: “Don’t act like a man, even if you are head of your own company. Be feminine. Don’t tell sarcastic jokes ... be quiet and mysterious, act ladylike, cross your legs and smile. Don’t talk so much. Wear sheer black stockings and hike up your skirt. You may feel offended by these suggestions and argue that this will suppress your intelligence ... but men will love it.”