From Front Porch to Back Seat

Beth L. Bailey

In the 19th century, men came to "call" on women. WOmen were in control of who could come in and visit; it was in the "woman's sphere"; and a man could come to call with no money in their pockets.

However, people in the city often had no parlors for callers. They, often poor and lower-class, went out on "dates" to the movies, to dance halls, or to restuarants, where no "respectable" woman was allowed to go. This moved the courtship into the man's "sphere." He took economic responsibility to pay for things, and often the economic exchange was understood to be for sexual favors. This change gave the power of courtship to men.

The rise of cars was coincidental, but gave young people a lot of freedom.

Contrary to popular belief, in the 19th century women had a great deal of power over whom they chose to allow to court them.