How Technology has Changed the Dating Scene – and Not for the Better
I’m actually glad that a lot has evolved in the world from the 50’s to current time. Trying to visualize how women were treated in the
workplace and in the home, submissively providing for the men around them, getting married at a very early age for security, based on social influence and generally a lack of emphasis on education – just bothers me. Of course, we can blame that on the lack of resources available to women to help them catapult their careers to an executive level or opportunities for women to venture into the entrepreneurial world. We could also blame that on role models and how families raised their daughters, pressuring women to get married, raise families asap.
That said, the thing that I really LIKE about the 50’s was how chivalrous men were to women – taking them out on proper dates, opening doors, having official meet and greets with family members, dressing up and upholding manners.
I feel that this type of chivalry is getting lost in translation. Quite possibly for two reasons:
- Men are confused (and getting more and more confused as the years go by)
- Technology
Men are confused
Some women refuse to let guys open the door for them, stand on the right side of the street while walking, pay for their dinners because they want to show independence, self-sufficiency and financial stability. I understand this, but ladies, you can have the best of both worlds – men really respect women that are self-sufficient, smart and can fend for themselves; we also have the option of allowing them to treat us like the beautiful creatures that we are, keeping traditional values alive, while focusing on the multitude of opportunities that are now available to us – you can have it all.
Technology
It’s getting easier and easier for men to use very impersonal (a.k.a. lazy) methods of connecting with women, asking women out on dates, sending gifts, the list goes on. Here are my tips for not letting technology get in the way of a truly successful date, potentially a long-term relationship:
- Always expect to talk to your suitor over the phone, especially if it’s a first date (even if he leaves a voicemail, that’s ok – as long as you know that he made the effort to call you)
- Do not accept an official first date from a Facebook ping, poke or a one sentence message. This would be considered more of a “hang out” or “networking”, but definitely not a date
- Do not accept a two-word text asking you out the day of (Not kidding. This happens)
- Do not let men substitute the real thing with a virtual teddy bear, virtual roses or virtual candy. It’s not being materialistic, mainly because women care more about what’s in the card anyway. It shows that they made the effort to make you happy – it’s part of the wooing process.
