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THE DATING SYSTEM.
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Traces the transition in American courtship.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Traces the transition in American courtship. Changing male/female encounters. Beth Bailey's explanation of the social meaning in her book "From Front Porch to Back Seat: Effects of a Consumer Society. Other theories discusses include the political/economic model, institutionalized national exchange of resources, social exchange theory.
Paper Introduction:
Beth Bailey’s text From Front Porch to Back Seat on the dating system in early 20th Century America—before the sexual revolution of the late 1960s—attempts to explain the social meaning of the transition from “calling” to “dating.” A man “called” on a woman at her home, a private space, with the idea of romance or courtship and/or marriage and sex. Over the years, this type of male/female encounter changed into “dating,” a private relationship in a public space. In large measure, Bailey attributes this transition in American courtship or dating patterns to the values of a consumer society. “As it emerged in the twentieth century, courtship largely was construed and understood in models and metaphors of modern industrial capitalism” (5). Bailey, however, does not consider
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Liking one's date, or even being in love orsexually attracted to someone was not the point of dating. In other words, courting did not cost the manany money (although he may have bought flowers on occasion). "Money purchasedobligation; money purchased inequality; money purchased control" (23). Works CitedBailey, Beth. It should be noted that Bailey isdealing with the middle class, not lower class or upper class women. "Social Exchange Theories and Sexuality." The Journal of Sex Research 35: 32-44, 1998. From Front Porch to Back Seat: Courtship in Twentieth-Century America. It was the dateitself as an event that was valued because of the level of consumption itrepresented. Sprecher's Social Exchange theory is applicable here. One is the political/economic model. The equity theory is applicable to Bailey's study. AlthoughSprecher applied her exchange approach to partner selection-who one dates,who one has sex with, and who one chooses to marry-the rewards and costsderived from the relationship for the individual (Sprecher 33) fitsBailey's model of the exchange of resources between couples. According to Susan Sprecher (1998), thereare specific exchange theory models that apply to sexuality: equity theory,the Investment Model, and the Interpersonal Model of Sexual Satisfaction(32). Asecond is the institutionalized rational exchange of resources. New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 197 .Sprecher, Susan. In large measure, Baileyattributes this transition in American courtship or dating patterns to thevalues of a consumer society. In discussing Bailey's argument that dating and courtship can beviewed in light of the values of a consumer society where money equalspower, another theory, other than those cited above, is also useful. 1989.Millett, Kate. This theoreticalperspective considers dating and sexuality as a negotiation between twopeople in their relationship. Dating, argues Bailey, can be seen not only inlight of a man "buying" female companionship but power. "As it emerged in the twentieth century,courtship largely was construed and understood in models and metaphors ofmodern industrial capitalism" (5). There are several sociological theories that help explain thetransition from calling to dating. According toBailey, partners in the dating system are more interested in outcomes; theyfactor the costs in with the anticipated rewards. Bailey, however, does not considercourtship to be a "economically determined model" in spite of its relationto the marketplace, but perceives the themes of courtship as historical andcultural constructs (5). To understand this, sheexamines the American "traditional" system of courtship. Thisnew dating system radically altered the balance of power between the sexes.Called upon at home, women essentially had the initiative, but going out,or dating, moved courtship from a woman's sphere to a man's sphere sincemen had the economic power. Dating, therefore, argues Bailey, was not about marriage, butabout competition (25). Washington, D.C.: Johns Hopkins University Press. Bailey claims that through dating, young people sought their personalwelfare "as commodities that afforded public validation of popularity, ofbelonging, of success (58). Milletconsidered politics to be a power-structured relationship in which onegroup of persons is controlled by another (23). Once thetransition was made to going "out," cost became a factor. Thesexual politics theory postulated by Kate Millett in her 197 book of thesame name is a radical feminist theory that fits Bailey's argument. Overthe years, this type of male/female encounter changed into "dating," aprivate relationship in a public space. Since most middleclass women did not work, men's "money became the basis of the datingsystem and thus of courtship" (14). Inmarketplace terms, the woman became a commodity, and the man a potentialmeal ticket. Bailey is concerned with exploring the question of "what is theproper relationship between men and women" (2). Millet contends that the relationship between thesexes is therefore a power struggle, a theory that fits Bailey's concept ofhow the dating system, or going out for entertainment, gave the men whospent the money on entertainment, power and control. She makes the point thatthe relationship between the sexes through history "is a case of thatphenomenon Max Weber defined as herrschaft, a relationship of dominance andsubordination" (24-25). Sexual Politics. A third isthe Social Exchange Theory, a social science theory that has been appliedto the study of human sexuality. Marriage then, asone of the goals of dating, became a means of men and women taking "theirplace as adults in the social and economic structure of America" (76).This culmination of the dating process related back to Bailey's thesis thatthe transition from the "front porch" to the "back seat (presumably in acar that cost the man money), was embedded in the consumer values ofAmerican culture. During the periodof calling, the male caller was present with the permission of the woman,and was served refreshments. Beth Bailey's text From Front Porch to Back Seat on the dating systemin early 2 th Century America-before the sexual revolution of the late196 s-attempts to explain the social meaning of the transition from"calling" to "dating." A man "called" on a woman at her home, a privatespace, with the idea of romance or courtship and/or marriage and sex. It became an exchange of resources, a model ofeconomic opportunity and demand (25). Men and women became commodities, "the woman valued by thelevel of consumption she could demand (how much she was "worth"), and theman by the level of consumption he could provide" (58).
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