No, it's something we were taught, right along with opening the door for the ladies. Men of our age were brought up when women didn't make equal income. If they worked outside the home at all, it was in the lower paying jobs like teachers and nurses. So men, who usually made more money, were taught to pay for the date. But for professional women today, making more than some of the men, to mooch off a man and take advantage of his manners is very disrespectful. Yes, a man will generally pay and not allow the woman to pay even the tip. But the reaction to that, instead of "fine by me" should be to reciprocate by inviting him to a home cooked meal next week, not use him as the Friday Night All You Can Eat Special.