Back in the 19th century a male suitor actually went a-wooing at the home of the young woman he sought as his wife. However, this only occurred when a young woman reached marriageable age. He brought gifts, sat and listened to her play piano or sing, all under the watchful eye of other family members, usually her paren

Monetary exchange existed in many cultures when it came to the courtship system. This was a very formal system that occurred primarily in the wealthy class of society. When the couple was together, the propriety of the times required that they keep their distance from each other; chaperones became a fixture, especially for the upper classes. However, the less wealthy did not have the formal system. Their houses were not large enough to do the courtship at home, so working class youth courted in public. Since the rules of that time period did not allow girls to have boys in their rooms, the courting activities for the less wealthy happened in public. Due to this, the evolution of courting began to occur. Once the less wealthy created their own version of the courting system eventually, the wealthy saw the less formal system as something they wanted to do as well.

After the male has called upon the young daughter, he then later asks for her hand in marriage. When a man decides that he wishes to wed a woman, his parents visit her house and present a gift. Gifts can be as extravagant as offering to build a home or paying for a college education. ?In some rural areas, the bride?s family may offer a large dowry to the groom. In turn, the groom?s family is responsible for the wedding costs including gifts and wedding apparel.? Many of these courting rituals are not done by obligation, but to show respect for the other family.

Many changes in the world created the changes in what occurred during dating. One major historical event that affected the world was World War II. ?Before the war, American youth prized a promiscuous popularity, demonstrating competitive success through the number and variety of dates they commanded. After the war, youth turned to going-steady, saying that the system provided a measure of security and escape from the pressures of the post war world.? However, it was not just because of the war that the feeling of stability was found in going steady, it was because of the emotions surrounding it.

ts. During this period of courtship or ?calling?, women held the power over courtship. ?The entire calling system was controlled and regulated by women and took place in their sphere.? The mother would decide which men could call on her daughter, and later the daughter could invite men she had met at dinners and dances. It was considered very inappropriate for a man to force his attention on a lady by initiating contact. The young man was only allowed to pay a call if the mother of the young woman or the young woman openly invited him to pay the call. Beth L. Bailey, author of From Front Porch to Back Seat, writes:

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