Men and women start dating when they are in their 20's. It is at that age that the wage gap is the least, less than 10%. I believe that when men pay for dates it reinforces the traditional "provider" role. It is the "provider" role that partly justifies the wage gap and which contributes to a culture of gender inequality.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/25/gender-pay-gap-facts/