Picking Up The Check?

For awhile now I've been struggling with, who picks up the check? Is it the guy or the girl? Over the summer I invited a girl to lunch and she insisted on paying and I respected her wishes. After telling my friends about this they denounced me and threaten to disown me. What is so wrong with letting the girl pick up the check? Are we not in a time of demanding gender equality in the home and in the workplace? Why not the restaurant? Please some one tell me the rules. I know that the guy should always pay, but what if the girl is bent on changing the rules? Does a reach for the check imply a desire to pay or is it just a courtesy to the guy who is paying? Should I not let her continue the reach for the check? I will say that once she touches the check, she is obligated to pay it. If she's not paying, she has no need to look at it. If it's not obvious already, I have not been on many dates. So I seek your wisdom and guidance through this dilemma.

CJE*

* For real opinions on real issues please visit cincyky.blogspot.com