Friendship and dating

While many U.S. Americans are fairly open and warm people who are quick to make new acquaintances, their mobility and sense of individualism mean that their relationships are often casual and informal. This is not to say that U.S. Americans take friendship lightly. It just means that while U.S. Americans know a lot of people, their lasting friendships are often few.

Comparatively, women in the United States are generally less inhibited than women from other countries. They are not usually shy with U.S. Americans or international visitors. Their relaxed and more independent attitude may be misunderstood by people whose native culture is more restrictive of women's activities. It is not unusual, for example, for unmarried women to live by themselves, to share living space with other single women, or to go to public places unescorted.

There are no universally accepted rules about dating U.S. Americans. For heterosexual relationships, traditionally, men have taken the initiative in asking women for dates, but today it is not uncommon for women to initiate a date. Gay and lesbian relationships are slowly becoming accepted in the United States, but there is still a great deal of fear and prejudice against homosexual relationships. Common dating events include dinners, concerts, movies, plays, and dances. If you want to get to know someone better, though, you might ask the person to join you for coffee or a lunch; such meetings can provide the beginning of an enduring friendship without the pressure of being a "date." It used to be the case that the one who invites a person on a date would pay for any expenses incurred (such as the dinner check or the ticket price), but it is becoming more common for people on a date to pay for his or her own expenses.