Changes in Dating throughout the Decades by Brandon Russell

There is no doubt that times have change and will continue to change. It has been proven time and time again throughout history. However, I found it interesting how much dating has changed since the 60s. There are many influences such as media and government regulations that affect peoples’ relationships, which support causing the dating culture to change. Between the 1920s and 1940s, was an interesting time of relationships because this was when sex became a little more liberated than what it once was. Flappers, a term for a girl who was free and had fun, were starting to take a hold[1]. The dating idea was “petting and paying”, people would go out on dates with a lot of people (not at one time of course) and would have sex expected at the end of the night[2]. This is certainly different from today. It appears that people were fighting for more equal rights, during this time. However, it appears that it did not take off into a commercialized atmosphere until the 1960s. This could possibly be because men were starting to get intimidated by this new free and independent sense of mind women were having. It is said this is exclaimed by demeaning terms that began coming around from the 1920s. There were many terms such as, flappers, gold diggers, Dumb Dora, heavy date, Non-skid, and more[3]. These terms maybe have started up from movies that seemed to have begun changing the culture. In about 1940s to 1950s there was another big change considering homosexuals. Kinsey was writing his research books about how many people were homosexual[4]. The first homosexual bar was founded. Although, it was not fully accepted and it was still seen as taboo, it was a change. Mattachine Society began and they were there to stand up for issues and unfairness toward the homosexual community[5]. 

Maybe it was because it was after the war or maybe Hugh Hefner was just that good, but there was another change in dating in the 1950s to 1960s when he commercialized sexuality. Society had been told before their roles as husband the bread fetcher and women the home caretaker. Hefner had ignored these and made a new view of things. Apparently, Americans were behind him because it continued on and he became very successful. This is around the time where the New Singles Culture, came into play. Life was more about going to party and clubs than going on dates[6]. 

Today, it seems like dating can be taken a little more seriously. For example, when people begin to date they attempt to take it monogamous for the most part. Now, it is more like you take one girl out to eat and possibly make it something steady.But it also seems like there are many people today, that cannot nor want to take dating seriously. But, our society today is very complex. There is not just one way people see each other anymore. Sometimes it is like the 1960s, where people meet at bars and clubs. The changes are amazing.

---

[1] "Love and romance in the 1920s." Love and romance in the 1920s. http://davies-linguistics.byu.edu/elang495/samples/lexical_decade.asp (accessed April 28, 2014).

[2] Moore, Crystal. "Beyond Reproduction." Lecture,, Charlotte, April 15, 2014.

[3] "Love and romance in the 1920s." Love and romance in the 1920s. http://davies-linguistics.byu.edu/elang495/samples/lexical_decade.asp (accessed April 28, 2014).

[4] Moore, Crystal. "Beyond Reproduction." Lecture,, Charlotte, April 15, 2014.

[5] Robinson, B.A.. "The gay liberation movement during the 1950s." The gay liberation movement in the 1950s. http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_agen50.htm (accessed April 28, 2014).

[6] Moore, Crystal. "The Sexualized Society The 1960's and 1970's in America." Lecture,, Charlotte, April 24, 2014.