A more charitable read is that women are the product that these apps are selling, and men are the paying customers who want access to this gated marketplace. I

A more charitable read is that women are the product that these apps are selling, and men are the paying customers who want access to this gated marketplace. It's reminiscent of how clubs will let women in for free, because without them the spendy men, willing to impress the ladies with bottomless overpriced champagne, will not bother coming inc, and the club ends up making no money.