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3. Love is embraced and commodified: the rise of fantasy romance and dating

With the advent of the industrial age in the 19th century, people’s finances were no longer tied to lands and their families. Financial independence meant they didn’t have to rely on family assets and inheritance for economic security, thus breaking the link between economics and marriage.

What emerged from this new reality was a focus on individual rights and the importance of personal happiness. e an exercise of personal rights and the pathway to romantic bliss. A key development in the history of romance.

Somewhere in the 1960s, a shift in social values led to the age of free love in the 1970s

When the 20th century rolled around, the social landscape changed dramatically. Women were entering the workforce, and the suffrage movement was picking up steam.

More and more people were financially independent, and emotions become more valued and appreciated. People were marrying for love, but pockets of aristocratic circles (and other cultural communities) still practiced arranged marriages.

Business persons began to see a viable opportunity to capitalize on this growing appetite for romance. They used it to churn out Hollywood movies and pop music, marketing it to audiences hungry for fantasy.

It was a welcome escape from the drudgery of everyday life and the harsh realities of the Great Depression and, later, World War II. “Happily ever after” was an easy sell because people wanted to believe in it – they needed hope in a time of turbulence and uncertainty.

After World War II, the ’50s and ’60s saw an upsurge in novels, movies, and songs that pushed the narrative of romantic love into the mainstream. The dopamine kick kept people going as they lived in real relationships that didn’t always offer the highs they wanted.

The influence of fantasy romance has gradually shifted our expectations of love. The reality of having a mature relationship, with its complexities and compromises, was swept under the rug in the portrayals in the media. Of course, people preferred the drama, plot twists, anticipation, and pining during separations.

However, people still took a traditional approach to dating for much of the 1900s. In the 1950s and 1960s, men had to initiate the dating process and ask a woman out, as it was improper for a woman to do so.

Dating was generally a group activity; after a couple of dates, it was time to “go steady” and talk about commitment. The shorter and more straightforward dating process meant that more people got married and were a lot younger when they did compared to couples today.

4. Rebels of love: open dating and casual connections become acceptable

The courtship and dating process was transformed by the liberal and open social and sexual attitudes that defined this age.

Romantic love was idolized and considered even more important than marriage. Effective birth control pills in the market made causal connections easier without the intent of marriage.

The language of relationships changed from “going steady” to “dating around” or “playing the field.” Instead of going on several platonic dates, couples skipped it and went steady right away.

Each decade, the sexual revolution took a stronger hold on the collective. It started as a hippie practice but became mainstream by the 1980s. This has led to the “hookup culture” and open relationships that are somewhat acceptable in dating culture as long as both partners are on the same page.

As you look back on the history of romance, do any attitudes and habits stand out to you ta en titt på den här webblänken? If any align with your personality, consider incorporating them into your intimate connections. It will infuse your life with new energy and perhaps even facilitate your ascension to higher dimensions of love.