Should women consider asking men out on dates?

According to a new poll by Lavalife, 95 percent of men think it’s attractive and acceptable when a woman asks them out. Clearly, these men are not intimidated by a strong woman; which is a good thing because that means they’re likely to be more dateable.

Personally, I think it’s perfectly acceptable for a woman to initiate a date in the early stages of dating. The old paradigm of men entirely initiating and directing the courting process has changed drastically for mid-lifers. Therefore, having and holding on to an outdated perspective will no longer serve women who are looking to date again and find long term relationships.

Confident women fare much better in the dating realm than those who are holding on to traditional courtship ideas because the old way was rooted in getting married as fast as they can so they can have sex. There will always be those who prefer things old school (and they might just find each other) but trying this new paradigm just might expand your relationship possibilities.

Mid-life dating is a completely different ballgame than when we were in our twenties. Our individual life journeys change and redefine us. We often find ourselves with confidence that may have been lacking when we were younger. Online dating can also remove some of the fear factor and make it easier for the woman to initiate the first date.

Holding on to the princess or damsel in distress mindset might have worked well when you were younger but as men mature, that can become a turnoff as they’ve learned to appreciate women who are strong willed, confident, intelligent and know how to have fun and good conversation.

Don’t worry about upsetting the balance of masculine/feminine. If a guy is strong enough in his masculinity, he won’t be put off by a confident woman. A shy man who thought he might never have a chance with you may be surprised and delighted by your interest in him.

Ultimately it depends on the individuals involved and their personal preference. Are things working for you? Then stay with it. But if you’ve been waiting for a knight in shining armor who hasn’t appeared yet – consider adjusting your expectations and trying on a new mindset.

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