A woman has sparked a debate over who should pay on dates.
In a TikTok video posted in November, Kiera Breaugh argued that men should always pay because expecting a woman to split the bill is an "effect of the patriarchy".
She begins the video by saying "one of the most insidious and ridiculous effects of the patriarchy is literally women paying 50/50."
"Men going around being like: 'It’s 2021, equal rights, right? You’re going to pay 50/50.' The fact that men expect 50/50 from women when women don’t get 50 percent of anything," she continues.
Breaugh goes on to say that women don't receive 50 percent of the "money, safety, privilege, or space," before questioning why they are expected to pay 50 percent.
"Pay equal amounts even though you don't have equal rights? Do you understand how ridiculous that is?" she says.
"Why are we starting at the end? Why are we starting with women pretending like they're equal before they get equal?" the TikToker adds incredulously.
"It benefits men to say: 'Oh yeah, I’m a feminist, I believe in women paying 50/50 on dinner dates,'" she explained, adding "and that is the only time they believe in equality."
Breaugh concludes the video by telling her followers: "Make his pockets hurt."
The clip has racked up 0ver 508,000 views since it was posted, with many viewers taking to the comments section to give their take on Breaugh's controversial argument.
Many women agreed with the TikToker, pointing out that men weren't keen to split other responsibilities - such as domestic duties - with their female partners.
"A ton of men only want 50/50 financially but it’s never 50/50 domestic duties or child rearing," wrote one.
"Making less money than a man, working the same amount of hours, having to do 90% of the housework…. 50/50 is a scam," agreed another.
But some people disagreed, making the point that paying for your own meal was a matter of self-respect.
"There is no way a man is paying for my food or drink. I’m a grown woman," one person commented.
"Personally I feel like I have the same rights and I pay for my half," another said.
Meanwhile, one user made the point that who pays for the date should come down to individual circumstances regardless of gender.
"Whatever's best for the individual...I've made more than my bf since we've been together and he's in school it would be a little ridic if he paid," they wrote.
