Marriage Then and Now

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Recommended: Marriage in the 1800s

Pursuance of a life partner or just someone to love on has two different names depending on the case. Since the 1800s, America has started shifting more from courting to dating. When you are comparing courting traditions from the 1800s to now, one can see that America has become more persuadable about dating.

If one goes back in time to the 1800s, they would see that there were no girlfriends or boyfriends. Dating was known by a different name that held a higher meaning. Courting, as interpreted by thefreedictionary.com, “seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)”. Courting was not just to have someone to have a physical relationship with. It was so that a man could find a suitable woman for marriage. As Quentin McCall said, “Courtship is becoming best friends so that you can have a loving and secure relationship”.

Back in the 1800s, dating was better known as courtship. Courtship transpired between only men and women for companionship and sometimes as a career move for the men. At this time, men would go “calling” to the women that they were courting. A man would also require the guardian(s) of the woman to approve of the meetings between to two.The dwellings for men and women to meet varied. The lower class according to angelpig.com, often socialized at Sunday service, church suppers, and holiday balls. Meanwhile the higher class would hold social events throughout the season.

Dangers of courting in the 1800’s were few due to the many conduct rules that were held for a woman. Angelpig.net lists several regulations that doubled to keep the courtship safe such as,
* A single woman never walked out alone. Her chaperone had to be older and preferably married.
* Proper women would never ride alo...

... middle of paper ...

...." PastorMark.tv. Mars Hill Church, 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.

Fass, Paula S. "Dating." Faqs.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

McCall, Quentin. "The Difference between Dating and Courting." Thought Leader Relationship and Life Strategist Quentin McCall Knowledge 4 Life. N.p., 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Hickey, Claire. "Internet Dating and 21st Century Courtship: Romance or Danger?"Washington Times Communities. N.p., 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

"Victorian Days: Courtship." Angelpig.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Print Sources
Godek, Gregory J. P. Love: The Course They Forgot to Teach You in School. Napervile, IL.: Casablanca, 1997. Print.

Stepp, Laura Sessions. Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both. New York: Riverhead, 2007. Print.

Harris, Joshua. I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Sisters, Or.: Multnomah, 1997. Print.

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