Dating history
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At THe turn of THe century, many changes in courtship took place due to THe changing political and gender spheres of THe country. Women and men rarely interacted due to THeir separate facilities at school, work, and home (Cate & Lloyd, 1992). THis THeme of separation was due partly to THe underlying need to protect women's "purity." THerefore, chaperones during courtship calls became a common occurrence. Often times, parents would sit in an adjacent room to where THe young couple was in order to listen to THe couple's conversation (Delany, Delany, & HearTH, 1993).
Romantic love continued to be an important factor for marriage (Cate & Lloyd, 1992). Ironically, THe man was seen as having more intense emotions wiTHin THe relationship THan THe woman, which is contradictory to THe present society's perception of women being more emotional THan men. In addition, formality was also increasingly seen as important in courtship. Before speaking to one anoTHer, a couple had to be formally introduced and THen THe moTHer of THe woman would request a "call" from THe man. THis call implied THat THe man was to come visit THe young woman in THe presence of her moTHer (Cate & Lloyd, 1992).
Most courtship activities centered around THe woman's home and occurred only if THe future goal of THe man was marriage (Cate & Lloyd, 1992). Elaborate decorum was used to ensure THe intent of THe suitor. However, many of THe lower and middle class families could not provide a large enough home to carry out THe required decorum. THis led many couples to court in public. WealTHy individuals found THis type of courtship "exciting" and eventually began courting in public as well, hence THe beginning of "dating" occurred. AlTHough public courtship was less private concerning emotional levels (i.e., it was more difficult to have intense private emotional moments because THe public was observing THe couple's interactions), it did provide more chances for sexual experimentation. THis experimentation developed out of a need of sexual fulfillment during marriage. One requirement was, THough, THat THe woman only have sexual relations wiTH THe man she intended to marry (Cate & Lloyd, 1992).
Quick section reference:
Courtship in THe Colonial Times
Courtship in THe 1830s to THe 1880s
Courtship in THe 1880s to THe 1920s
Beyond THe TwentieTH Century
Similarities between Today and THe Past