Who Foots the Bill?

My cousins have come down from Salem. It's one of those rarest occasions that all my cousins are present this weekend to have a gala time.Ok.I don't want to digress.I am coming to the point.Whenever, we, relatives are on an outing spree, it is always my cousin brother who bears all the costs. As usual, as always, this time also he has taken charge of all the expenses.The reason he says for settling all the accounts on his own is that he doesn't have any other commitments.I am happy that my cousin brother is very affectionate and committed. But some men do not want women to pay the bills for the simple reason that it is not culturally appropriate to let them pay.This really left me with the question of who should foot the bill on an outing?Men or Women?

Traditionally, women were mere home makers, they didn't earn any money , so obviously the men who accompanied the women had to foot the bill.But in a country like ours, allowing women to pay the bills are still seen as inappropriate.As a matter of fact, universally, men are supposed to foot the bill, no matter what the occasion. I seriously don't subscribe to that idea because it promotes male chauvinism.It further suggests that women are mere appendages. Secondly, some women could play their gender card and make the innocent men to bear all the expenses.So, ultimately, who should foot the bill? The answer is simple. The one who suggested for a time out should pay the bill, no matter what the gender. Another possible alternative could be sharing the expenses.