I can honestly see how it could be considered a form of manipulation, just by the sheer pressure it exerts.
The problem here is that, much like a lot of "feministy" points, is that it ascribes intentions when there are none. No guy who is willing to go through the effort of including the whole family honestly thinks he needs to use them, he is doing it because he is certain she will say yes and he wants to make it extra special.
So, like always, its women creating a problem with men trying to do nice things for them. Up to and including having a relationship where there is such a disconnect that he can think something so wrong.
Some men are delusional. I proposed to my wife over tater tots at a bar. It was pretty much, "okay fine, let's do this, in or out?" and she was super in.
I knew a guy who proposed to his "girl friend" (as in he was friendzoned) on the Vegas strip with a 5k ring he bought. Never even kissed her. Of course she said no. Some guys get way wrapped up in their own heads.
TV and such is part of the problem, selling men delusions about how women and romance work. Most guys usually have some formational experiences that teach them reality but lately more and more guys go through life believing total nonsense about women.
I asked my then girlfriend how she wanted to be proposed to, she dropped to a knee and asked me. I was genuinely asking, but she was too excited to care.
I can honestly see how it could be considered a form of manipulation, just by the sheer pressure it exerts.
The problem here is that, much like a lot of "feministy" points, is that it ascribes intentions when there are none. No guy who is willing to go through the effort of including the whole family honestly thinks he needs to use them, he is doing it because he is certain she will say yes and he wants to make it extra special.
So, like always, its women creating a problem with men trying to do nice things for them. Up to and including having a relationship where there is such a disconnect that he can think something so wrong.
Some men are delusional. I proposed to my wife over tater tots at a bar. It was pretty much, "okay fine, let's do this, in or out?" and she was super in.
I knew a guy who proposed to his "girl friend" (as in he was friendzoned) on the Vegas strip with a 5k ring he bought. Never even kissed her. Of course she said no. Some guys get way wrapped up in their own heads.
TV and such is part of the problem, selling men delusions about how women and romance work. Most guys usually have some formational experiences that teach them reality but lately more and more guys go through life believing total nonsense about women.
I asked my then girlfriend how she wanted to be proposed to, she dropped to a knee and asked me. I was genuinely asking, but she was too excited to care.