Diary of a Gen Z Student: Awkward questions such as 'who's footing the bill?'

Admittedly, I was only in 'holy God’s pocket' then so I have to trust what my elders have told me but dating was probably simpler in my parents' day

Jane Cowan: "Speaking from my heterosexual perspective, there’s less pressure now for the guy to initiate that first date. Lots of girls are happy to take the reins." Picture:Barry Cronin

So, there I am. Hair freshly styled. Makeup carefully applied. Coffee cup empty. Trying to figure out if a second date could be on the table. Then, as if the whole scenario of a first date isn’t awkward enough, the waiter drops over the bill for two coffees. And an important question is asked: Who is footing the bill?

In my parents’ day, the answer to this was probably simpler than it is for today’s Gen Z students. The role of the man was fairly straightforward. He probably did the asking. If he was a gentleman, he probably picked the location. And if every other dating norm was being adhered to, he’d take care of the bill too. That simply fell under his jurisdiction. And if I’ve learned one thing from them, gender roles were particularly rigid when it came to dating. Admittedly, I was only in 'holy God’s pocket' then so I have to trust what my elders have told me.