AITA for buying my girlfriend lingerie?
Throwaway.
I (M19) have been with my girlfriend (F19) for about two years now.
We have a great relationship, and I love her very much. Sometimes she struggles with self-confidence and feeling good about herself. I regularly tell her how pretty she looks and make your standard compliments to cheer her up, which she appreciates.
I’d say my love language is buying gifts, and I typically get her flowers or small things I see she’d like. I felt this was getting a bit “samey” so I had a look online for present ideas for a significant other and saw the idea of lingerie. I thought this could be perfect; my girlfriend usually wears more “plain” underwear, so I thought I could get her something that would make her feel confident/look good, while I also got the benefit of seeing her it in as well.
So, when I came home from college, I gave my girlfriend the gift bag with lingerie in. However, when she opened it, her reaction was not what I expected. She looked surprised, if not disgusted, and asked why I’d bought her that. I explained it was so she could feel confident/sexy, and it was something I thought she’d appreciate.
She responded extremely bluntly, saying the only reason I’d got this was to “fulfill one of my fantasies” and it was a present “for me, not for her”. She shoved it back in the bag, and it’s just in the corner of her room.
She was distant that evening. When I tried to speak to her, she said she felt it was a weird present and she can wear any underwear she wants, and that’s something she should buy.
I think it’s a fairly normal present to buy a partner. Of course, seeing her in it was a bonus, but I certainly wouldn’t say it was a present “for me”, even if she’s still irritated about it.
AITA?