Essay Example on 20th Century Dating: Evolving Perception, Same Role

Introduction

Dating is a common concept in contemporary society and it can be traced back to the very beginning of the 20th century. The perception and meaning of dating have significantly changed over time, however, the role of the partners are almost the same. Dating refers to the situation in which one goes out on dates with another person in which they get out, meet and spend time together. It involves going out with a specific person on a regular basis with the focus on establishing a considerable form of relationship, which is expected to last. The practice of dating has a considerable change in most dimensions with every generation. The initial form of dating hat was experienced during late 1900 was a more private and an emotional affair. Besides, during those times it took the form of a more etiquette relationship involving strict gender interactions. According to Kettrey (2016), women had a limited role to play in the exercise, as men were the party expected to initiate date and take care of the entire expense involved between the two. Women could not have the courage to have for companionship and sex as men had. However, these conditions were rather in place since the women were recognized as those with limited power in all aspects of the society in which they participate. This paper applies feminist theory and social concepts like interactionism, feminism, and postmodernism to discuss how a feminist perspective would address dating in 2019.

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Application of Feminist Theory

Feminist theory can be applied to the issues in dating concerning how they have changed over time. the theory is based on the idea extending from the concept of feminism to introduce philosophical, theoretical and fictional discourse. The idea is applicable in understanding the extent and the nature of gender inequality. It aims to study the individual role of men and women in a society based on their perceived authority and power to accomplish a given task (Lefebvre, 2017). Gender inequality is evident in family matters and this occurs even during courtship where the male individual is distinguished regarding the role they play in a relationship relative to that of the female counterparts. This theory, therefore, identifies the areas in which women are limited in the practice of dating which should be addressed, and how changes occur in the current age.

Proper Protocol of Calling Upon

Dating has changed since there is no specific protocol of calling upon a love partner for dating. In the 1970s, dating was strictly marked by the role of the gentleman caller in which a man had to follow specified to express his interest in a lady. Lever, Frederick and Hertz (2015) argued that a man would go to the place of residence of the lady first and not the lady Doing the same. It, therefore, follows that the period marked a point in history in which men were more significant than women did. They had the opportunity to reveal their feeling to a lady without any restrictions and this would be done in the presence of the parents of the lady for the first time. Until a man reached their place, a woman had no freedom to approach a man. However, a deeper understanding of the feminist theory, it is clear that the women of those days were restricted.

This condition is gradually changing and as in the year 2019, the restrictions have been eliminated. Ladies currently have the opportunity to approach a man on love issues and dating ay begins even without the initial notice of a man. Besides, the occurrence of dating involves meeting in a central place or the residence of them (Kettrey, 2016). In this context, women are allowed the opportunity to go and meet their future lovers or husbands at will. This is trying to suppress the inequality issue, which existed before between men and women, and the aspect of equality is gradually having a place in the affair. Moreover, it also implies that women need the chance to date man by making their own choices without involving the intervention of their parents which men had to meet in the olden days

Incurring the Cost of Dating

The approach to dating has changed and any of the dating partners have the opportunity to pay for the services they receive. Although this situation has not been fully recognized in the relationship between men and women in courtship, the society is slowly beginning to realize that the women could as well be having the potential of contributing properly towards the accomplishment of a dating exercise. The initial reasoning and the mentality of most people on the role-playing in dating, women were generally assumed to be unable to pay for the services the partners require during their meeting (Lefebvre, 2017). It was also a popular belief that ladies should not be allowed to incur the costs even if they are able. However, the feminist theory is unfolding the truth and provides that there is no need to restrict the women while they are able to undertake this responsibility well.

Incorporating the understanding of the provisions of the feminist theory reveals that women are limited but they should be allowed to exhaust their potential in this manner. There is currently some aspect of revolution, which as influenced the reasoning between the dating partner in which the initial belief is gradually diminishing. As women are now able to initiate a dating exercise between them, they equally have the freedom to finance their meeting when the male partner is not at a position to do so. This has given the female individuals the chance to control when they should meet in contradiction to the traditional situation in which a lady had to wait for a man to prepare in terms of the ability to bear the expected costs.

Functionalism in Dating and Marriage & Family

Functionalism is one of the theoretical perspectives, which have been used to define and understand the relationships expected and experienced in the marriage and family setting. Functionalism has long had a place in dating and influenced the role played by either men or women. This reflects the actual situations in marriage and family in which men are generally regarded as the head of the family and has the greatest power over the wife. Functionalism provides that families have a significant role to play in society and the status of roles are clearly stated and defined. As a result, women have limited opportunities in marriage relative to the case of the men who tend o control most things. Some changes, however, tend to occur in the family structure in the context of role-playing, which ultimately has a far-reaching effect which affects the society as a whole.

Sociological Concepts

The study of the feminist perspectives of dating can be undertaken better considering some of the applicable sociological concepts in this context. A sociological concept refers to a mental construct that is used to represent a given part of the world using a simplified form. It manifests in terms of distinguishing two parties involved in an affair based on their perceived abilities. Besides, it is also based on the establishment of the classes in the society in which one group is regarded as a higher reputation in the form of interaction involved. Dating is a current issue of concern and which can be viewed in terms of mental construct (Lever, Frederick & Hertz, 2015). Even though dating partners have an equal social contribution to the achievement of their relationship goals, the male individual is normally treated to be of higher social class based on the perceived potentials. There are a number of sociological concepts applicable in this case. For the purpose of this context, the analysis will focus on interactionism, feminism, and postmodernism as the most applicable concepts, which can be used to address these situations and the possible changes.

Interactionism

Interactionism serves as a considerable theoretical perspective which has the potential driving dating as a result of human interaction. It also involves direct interaction in society by shaping society and being shaped in the end. This has seen dating taking a different dimension since interaction has been made easy by the dynamics in society (Lefebvre, 2017). Men and women can now meet easily through the online media platforms and dating sites in which individuals meet for the first time and suggest the interest in each other, which leads to a serious form of relationship. This is also significant as it gives the female individuals the opportunity to suggest that would like to date. This is a great change from the previous situations in which women were to remain a passive player in the exercise. Women now have the courage to let a man know that they are willing to be in love with them.

Feminism

Feminism refers to the various campaigns, which advocate for the rights of women so that they are given the opportunity to compete for equality in society. This is actively recognized in modern society in which the role of women is treated significantly even in the context of dating. The current changes, which see women being actively involved in courtship and dating, imply that feminism is a reality in sexual relationships in the current generation. Moreover, Kettrey (2016) provided that feminism has advocated for the women and can, therefore, be able to have their own sexual relationship without involving a man. This is the reason why lesbianism is practiced in America and some many parts of the world. This implies that women have been set free and are of late attached with the ability to make a proper dating relationship without necessarily having to involve the role of a man. Feminism has therefore played a key role in establishing significant changes in dating and courtship.

Postmodernism

Post-modernism has occurred as a classical phase in which the traditional form of dating is completely changing. As a result, a situation death of dating in which dating partners rather involve in romantic modernism in which ethics of relationships are hardly applicable. As a result, there are new and unique perspectives emerging in the event of dating and courtship. The societies, which embrace the concept of postmodernism, appear to more advance in dating introduce what never existed in the initial rituals of dating. Currently, it is normal to have the LGTBQ community and the government is making it public that they have a position in the society and their culture should be respected just like the regular sexual orientations. Postmodernism appears to be complaining the issue of dating is making way for the exercise of freedom for the lover partners irrespective of the gender. Female individuals are most benefitting in this sexual orientation adjustment as they get the freedom to control their relationships.

Implications of the Changes in Courtship and Dating Rituals

The current situation in dating as it is manifesting in the year 2019 presents a complex form of relationship; however, the changes resulting are generally. This is because all the dimensions of change are moving towards recognizing the need to associate female individuals with a sufficient level of freedom and respect. This is helping the society to move from the initial situation in which dating and courtship followed a strict ritual in which men were overall in organizing and achieving the goals of affairs (Lefebvre, (2017)). Women are emerging to be equally significant relationship an can make effective decisions which will be applicable in their dating. Therefore, the form of dating in contemporary society has made significant steps and it desirable as it boosted the social role of women in society.

Conclusion

The ritual dating and courtship are not as they were in the early 1970s in which ethical constraints were fully applied. This is not the case in recent year...