A friend of mine ages ago said something to me and it just seems to feel relevant to this post, she was trying to explain to me why dating sucks more for women than men. I don't agree with you on that point, I think it equally good or bad for both men and women on average. But her argument about the different levels of potential wins for men versus women was valid, and I think it relates really well to this post.

It went like this, a man gets a win if he nets a date, and if the date he nets it with is the right person. Women only get a win if the date they net is with the right person.

A man gets a win if a date goes well, and if he is with the right person. A woman only gets a win if she is with the right person.

A man gets a win if he gets a kiss, and if the person he kisses is the right person. A woman only gets a win if the person she is kissing is the right person.

A man gets a win if he gets sex, and if he has sex with the right person. A woman only gets a win if she has sex with the right person.

A man gets a win if he gets a second date, and if the person he gets the second date with is the right person. A woman only gets a win if she goes on a second date with the right person.

I don't know why, but that just seemed relevant to what you were saying! And I agree, dating is not any easier or harder for men or women, it is the same difficulty just for different reasons and in different ways.

Great post, Elicia, and thanks as ever for sharing, very happy to have found you as a contributor to our publication!