Footing the bill: a man's responsibility?

I had dinner with a friend last night. It was a good one, with steaks and lobster. Plenty of talks - which I haven't done for quite some time.

Anyway, it made me realise something.

Mostly, when I go out with male friends - doesn't matter if it's a one-on-one meet-ups or in a group - either the guys will take care of the bills (i.e. I don't pay at all), or we go dutch. It's almost non-existence where I'd be paying for the whole event.

Which made me think.. is that normal? For the man to bear the cost of anything?

I can understand if it's a relationship - normal laa if guys wanna belanja the girlfriends (ok, so after marriage might be a different thing hahaha!).. but among friends? I'm all for going dutch, but it's so very rare that I'll be paying for the guys' meals, etc.

So, it's open for debate really.

Some men felt like it's more gentlemanly if they take care of the bill. And some women accept that. While I know some who feel differently.
In these days and age where more and more women are having the same - if not better - jobs and salary as the male species, some may want to be treated equally as the men. Probably that includes taking care of the bills as well eh?

* * *

My friend yesterday said that he felt weird, because I was the one who 'belanja' for last night's dinner.
My response?
"Takpe lah. Other times you're paying, kan?"
LOLs..

OK, OK.. it's never my intention to bully him.
But, being the slowpoke I am, he will always beat me to the cashier and pay for our lunch. Sometimes I get to chip in lah. But mostly when I give him the money, he would look the other way and say "Tak payah laaa", refusing to accept my money.

To a dear friend, here's to more lunches and meals together. Maybe one day you'll let me belanja you again, eh? :-)