1. The History of DATING

2. Courtship from 1700-1830 Singleness = Laziness Ability to support family Social standing & family approval Love developed later Spend a decade choosing partner

3. Courtship 1830-1880 Separate spheres of men and women Girls and boys had little chance to get to know each other More formalized Romantic love flourished only acceptable basis for marriage Mens readiness for marriage = ability to provide for wife

4. Courtship 1880-1920 Separate spheres still existed view on men degenerated Men = animal passions Lives of young men and women rarely intersected Romantic love more romantic Young men and women had to be formally introduced

5. Courtship 1880-1920 contd Courting activities done in girls home Chastity valued Calling on a girl meant 1 thing Less wealthy courting done in public By turn of century couples went public Control loosened so did morals

6. Courtship from 1920-1945 Dating Money – finances always tied to courtship Access to money = access to women Power shifted to men Dancing Cars – danger zone

7. Courtship from 1920-1945 contd Dating popularity Courtship marriage Women expected to say NO Premarital sex on the rise Virginity still desirable but no longer a requirement

8. Courtship 1945-1960 Age of 1 st marriage dropped lowest in US history: 22 men 20 women Dating occurring earlier Going steady became popular Formula for marital bliss

9. Courtship 1960- Present Feminist movement = women initiate dating Liberal view of sex 1980 80% male, 65% female had sex by freshman yr of college 1990 commitment not a requirement

10. 4 Changes from 1700s Greater opportunity for opposite sex interaction Dating became less formal No set progression of stages from 1 st meet to marriage Cohabitation – 40%- 50% of all young people will live together at some point before age 30.