INTERRACIAL DATING
3 Things to Avoid When Dating in Moscow
The city of Moscow attracts all kinds of people, for all kinds of reasons — whether it be business, tourism, or the pursuit of love. That last one, however, is an endeavor shared by many.
If you’re a foreign man in Russia looking for a love interest, then you’re not alone.
Moscow is an immersive megacity defined by its centuries-old history, colorful skyline, multi-cultural background, and wide array of things to do, see, and experience. In most cases, you could get lost in this town and still find something new to behold or someone new to meet.
It’s a highly progressive city with a diverse set of subcultures, music scenes, nightlife spots, and of course, drop-dead gorgeous Russian ladies — potential dating options for expats and locals alike.
However, not every Russian is a vodka-swigging stereotype like some might imagine. In fact, you’ll have to recognize and understand the true nature of Russian people so as to achieve a successful dating experience in Moscow.
This will involve seeing past certain culturally-ingrained stereotypes influenced by mainstream media and pop culture. You’re going to have to take a deeper, more analytical look at how people in this city think, feel, and operate, and understand how that contrasts with Western culture and your own ideals.
We can assure you that a firm and adequate understanding of Russian culture and the women’s behavior and attitudes will be a vital aspect in your quest for intimacy in Moscow, and this knowledge will be your primary tool of the trade.
As an expat, there’s a handful of things that you’ll need to actively look out for when it comes to dating Russian women in Moscow — or anywhere in Russia for that matter.
We’ve compiled 3 significant things to avoid when going about your dating endeavors in this city, so let’s get into it.
We’ll start with:
Being unhygienic or ungentlemanly
Russian men and women tend to take on a more traditional, chivalrous approach towards dating and romance — which generally puts a higher social responsibility on the male’s role in the dynamic.
When you’re dating a Russian woman in Moscow, you absolutely need to be on your tip-top gentleman game. It’s a progressive country, that’s for sure — but you can’t just go about this endeavor with the casualness and informality of a quick fling back home in the West.
You’ll need to dress to impress, the way a gentleman would. This doesn’t mean you’ll need to rock some expensive designer clothes or a straight-up tuxedo (although they probably wouldn’t mind if you were at a formal event), but you can’t just pull up to a date in some old house clothes.
Russian women tend to care very much about their appearance, and they never dress down. They tend to enjoy dedicating time to their outfit, their makeup, and their overall getup for the day.
This means that you can’t go out with your date wearing a crumpled T-shirt and sweats while she looks like a million bucks in high heels and full makeup. That’s going to turn her (and everyone who sees you) off for sure.
These women also pay very close attention to detail. If you didn’t shower, shave, cut your nails, or brush your teeth before a date with her, she’ll probably notice that immediately.
Don’t be a slob, and don’t be lazy or uncaring with hygiene and fashion. Dress to impress and carry yourself with a chivalrous and sophisticated atmosphere.
Being abrasive or aggressive with your date
Some say clothes make the man, but what matters more than outside appearance is your inner behavior and attitude towards Russian women. Good looks and hygiene are only surface-level aspects of the ideal man because they’d be useless without good character.
To support your spiffy and intellectual appearance, you’ll need some good behavior and etiquette to go along with it. This means that you cannot really treat a Russian lady with the same banter that some Western women tend to enjoy.
You can still be a tease while being loving and caring at the same time, but you’ll need to understand how (and to what degree) this is applicable when it comes to Russian women.
Some Russian guys have a tendency to be a bit more on the abrasive side and can be a little aggressive or blunt at times. This gives you the advantage, as you have the opportunity to embody a more tender, understanding disposition with your Moscow love interest.
You can stand out by paying attention to her when she talks and showing interest in what she has to say and what (or how) she feels towards anything in general. Listen to her, reciprocate, and be relatable.
When she’s opening up about something, listen. Don’t cut her off. Also, try not to make any insensitive comments that could offend her. Choose your words carefully and be wise with the topics you bring up on the first and subsequent dates.
Be a man of integrity and show her that you’re a nice guy, but not a pushover, either.
Disregarding gender roles
This one’s a little more complex and has roots in traditional Russian culture. Gender roles play a significant part in Russian society, and they historically served as the country’s norm for centuries.
The concept itself is pretty basic, but the implications it has on modern Russian attitudes can be difficult to grasp at first if you’re a foreigner, and it can easily be overlooked. Don’t disregard this next part.
Traditionally, Russian society places the breadwinning role of the provider on men and the motherly household and child-raising duties on women. This has served as the family dynamic for most Russian families for hundreds of years.
This translates to modern Russian ladies seeing men as providers, as that’s how it’s always been. This means that you are expected to pay for the dating expenses when you two are out at a restaurant or bar. This means paying for meals, transportation, entertainment — those kinds of things.
Do not try to deviate from this dynamic. A genuine Russian girl will not attempt to gold-dig on you or bleed you dry of your money, but at the same time, she’ll expect you to front the cash for any expenses you two have when you’re out.
Even if she offers to throw in some money for the bill, decline it. Take the initiative to pay for it yourself, and show her that you understand how things work in Moscow.
To conclude, it’s safe to say that these offenses to avoid while dating women in Moscow can be applied to most women of the world, with the exception that these girls in particular tend to lean more towards the traditional side.
But then again, who doesn’t like a good old-fashioned gentleman? Be genuine, be yourself, and most importantly, be wise about your conduct and behavior as an expat dating Russian ladies in Moscow.
Best of luck to everyone!
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