Evolution of dating

Sophomores Andrea Baiza and Kala Karratti celebrating Valentine's Day.

Paola Bautista

Sophomores Andrea Baiza and Kala Karratti celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Love is always in the air. People enjoy having someone that has the same interest as them and that they enjoy spending time with. Believe it or not, dating has changed so much throughout the years. According to Hankeringforhistory.com, “There wasn’t such thing as dating 200 years ago since marriages were arranged by parents.” In arranged marriages families were interested in financial status because they wanted the whole family to benefit from the marriage. 

Dating really did change in the 1900s. Usually, their first dates were at the woman’s house, in which they were accompanied by a parent or their guardian. 

According to hankeringforhistory.com, at the beginning of the 20th century, women were arrested for dating. Due to authorities not knowing how to react to men walking in the streets with women, buying them food and flowers. They thought that it resembled prostitution. 

An interesting fact from Hankeringforhistory.com is, dating promoted cosmetics. The makeup industry wanted to popularize their products and they advertised makeup products as “tools for making women more beautiful and feminine.” 

In the 1920s was when it was more common for people who were dating to go on dates outside. Movie theaters were more common for dates during this time according to  Hankeringforhistory.com. 

After World War II, dating made people get to know each other better and it was more common for people to ask each other out over the phone. 

The 1990s was the beginning of dating turning into “hookups.” Fast forward to now, we all know that dating apps have taken over the internet. They have really changed the way of dating. According to Cloudwards.net, 19% of internet users are currently using an online dating platform and 54% of online daters in the U.S. say relationships that come from online dating are just as successful as ones that begin in person. This means that most online relations do really work for people who are actually looking for a commitment. Commitment is a big deal for most yet some aren’t really ready for that. That’s why dating apps have such good benefits for people who feel either way. 

“My girlfriend and I met through friends and we started talking and getting to know each other. We took our time until we both were ready for a relationship,” said Junior Julian Munguia.