It is perfectly acceptable, for example, for a woman to call a man for a date. Whatever your situation, be prepared to be rejected. If the person you're asking is someone you must see often in the community or work, make it clear that you aren't offended by the rejection and that you are happy to remain friends with the person. If you have to refuse a date, refuse it clearly (though politely) rather than giving an excuse. If you have to break a date, try not to ruin someone's evening by doing it at the last minute.

There is some controversy about whether a woman should offer to share expenses with a man on a date. Unless the man obviously has much more money than the woman, or has made it very clear that he intends to pay for everything, it is polite for the woman to offer to share expenses. If the man turns down the offer and insists on paying, there is no harm done; the woman has shown some consideration. For a woman to assume that a man, otherwise her social and economic equal, should pay for all expenses on every date is old fashioned and unrealistic.

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