The United States

From Front Porch to Back Seat focuses exclusively on the history of courtship in the United States.

College Campuses

Students on college campuses often started courtship trends that spread to the wider population over time.

The Call System

The call system was the system of courtship dominant prior to dating.

Dating

The dating system took over with the rise of national youth culture and in the aftermath of World War I.

Going Steady

'Going steady' was the response pushed by men due to the anxiety caused by World War II and the need for stability.

Sexual Intimacy

While sexual intimacy was restricted within the dating system, it became looser over time.

Cultural Norms

Cultural norms are shown in the book to be highly variable and responsive to changes in social attitudes and economic developments.

Gender Identity

Gender identities became more fragile as the fifties and...