Source: "The Social Guidebook to Norway"
In many countries around the world
Guys pay for girls
It is common
Sometimes the guys do not even know the girls
They just offer them a drink
To be nice
To open a dialogue
To let a girl know that he finds her attractive
Sometimes the guy knows the girl
He wants to shows his appreciation
His interest
He wants to be a gentleman
Girls around the world may expect this behaviour
And be thankful for it
In Norway
it works differently
Men are also gentlemen
In what it means to be gentleman in Norway
A Norwegian man does not want the girl to feel like she owes something back
He wants her to feel comfortable
He wants her to feel like she can leave at any moment
He wants her to feel free
He wants things to be equal
It is not about a lack of manner
Women and men work in Norway
It is about genders being equal
It is also about relationships being equal
Friends will often pay each for themselves when going out
Even if they are good friends
Over a long period of time
Independence, equality and the possibility to escape
Is central to Friendships and Relationships in Norway
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Read more about the Norwegian culture in Our Social Guidebooks to Norway
By Julien S. Bourrelle
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