Love has never been an easy feat. No matter the generation, obstacles always get in the way with matters relating to the heart. Distance between partners, social norms and family status have all influenced romantic partnerships in the past and present, but has dating gotten any easier? With this question in mind, The VanCougar takes a look at the history of dating in the U.S. over the past century.
1900s
Near the beginning of the 1900s, courting became more about romantic feelings, and less about family arrangements and status. According to the National Women’s History Museum, instead of marrying solely for family, security and money, young women let their feelings guide them instead of letting parents decide who they marry. Valentine’s letters began to emerge and became critical in wooing potential partners. The more creative they were the more likely a suitor would be chosen, leading to the popular Valentine card created in 1913 by Hallmark.
1920s
Erin Blakemore of the History Education Network, says the roaring 20s brings parties, extravagance and casual dating to the lives of young singles. This era allowed young people to date multiple partners at one time, deeming it socially acceptable for the period. Additionally, drag balls gained popularity and were integrated with modern LGBTQ nightlife and culture.
1960s
Operation Match, considered to be one of the first computer matchmaking services according to The Harvard Crimson, was created by two Harvard students, Jeffrey Tarr and Vaughan Morrill in 1965. Operation Match was a mailing service that had clients fill out a paper survey answering 75 questions about themselves and their dating preferences. They would then mail their answer sheet and three weeks later received a sheet of paper with names and contact information of their six potential matches.
1990s – 2010s
Invented by Tim Berners-Lee, the World Wide Web or the internet as we know it today, is now in full force. Dating websites followed shortly after, starting with Kiss.com which emerged as the first modern dating website in 1994, followed by Match.com in 1995. More couples began to report meeting their significant others on dating apps, and less reported meeting through usual methods of friends, family, church or work. A 2017 survey conducted by Stanford University showed that 39% of heterosexual couples met online, which is a significant increase from the 22% who found love online in 2009.
2020
Alas, 2020, the year everything seemed to go wrong. The COVID-19 pandemic forced restaurants and other fun dating spots to close to keep the virus at bay, and face coverings became mandatory when in crowded public spaces. Dating may be more challenging than ever, but the answer lies with video chatting platforms, continued use of dating apps and socially distant activities for the foreseeable future.