Page 4 - May-JOA-22

Publisher’s Corner

The Evolution of Courtship journalofantiques.com

Publisher
Maxine Carter-Lome
his past March saw new seasons of such Mail Order Brides were journalofantiques@gmail.com

fan-favorite period pieces as Bridgerton, The another American marriage Maxine Carter-Lome
TGilded Age, and Sanditon returned to television. phenomenon. The West drew Business Manager
Like many, I binge-watched each show, savoring men with the promise of fortune, adventure, and a new Jeffrey Lome
the costumes and settings and hoping my favorite beginning. Women saw moving west as a chance for jeffrey@journalofantiques.com
characters would find the love they sought in an age the same thing, literally providing a ticket to a new or Managing Editor
when neither love nor personal choice was required for better life. Many were more than willing to travel west Judy Gonyeau
a marriage arrangement to be made. to marry an unknown man, often solicited through editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
At their essence, and aside from their backdrops advertisements in newspapers. With the low ratio of
and era, these shows are about the culture of courtship; women to men, many western states made a deliberate Art Director
an emerging 19th-century custom primarily effort to recruit women by promising them liberal Lynn Cotterman
among Europeans bucking the tradition of arranged women’s legislation about retaining ownership of ads@journalofantiques.com
marriage in favor of suitable, parental-approved free property upon marriage, the legal right to initiate Production
choice. This required that the couple first spend a divorce, and the ability to vote.
period of supervised time together to get to know Despite the times, arranged marriage is still Lynn Cotterman
each other and determine lifelong compatibility; thus, practiced today among certain religions and cultures, Judy Gonyeau
“The Courtship.” in this country, and more so around the world. In fact, Jill Montague-Kaitbenski
In period-era dramas, courtship is romanticized; high divorce rates among couples of choice have many
carriage rides through the country, chaperoned walks young people in certain cultures returning to their
on the promenade, evenings spent in the company of elders and family members to help make formal intro- 508-347-1960
others at balls and dinner parties … however, more ductions if not outright arranged marriages. More Toll free:
than mere flirtations, these courtships were high-stakes common, though, is an introduction and then a period 888-698-0734
opportunities on both sides of the aisle, and not some- of courtship that allows the couple, however they
thing to be entered into lightly or frivolously for fear of become connected, to get to know each other before Fax: 508-347-0911
damaging one’s reputation and therefore eligibility. their wedding day. Mailing:
That’s what makes courtship so exciting, dangerous, In earlier centuries, young adults were expected to P. O. Box 950
relatable, and deliciously entertaining as a plotline. court with the intention of finding marriage partners, Sturbridge, MA 01566
In most cultures up through the 19th-century, rather than for social reasons; however, by the 1920s,
marriages were contracts typically arranged by parents dating for fun was becoming an expectation, and info@journalofantiques.com
or family members as a business transaction. Often, the by the 1930s, it was assumed that any popular
UPS and FedEx
bride and groom did not meet until their wedding day. young person would have lots of dates before agreeing Shipping Address:
Arranged marriages united families, secured wealth, to marry. 46 Hall Road
built political alliances, and perpetuated lineage. In the As the decades progressed, proprietary was replaced Sturbridge, MA 01566
words of Tina Turner, What’s love got to do with it? by a sexual revolution that added more than social
The concept of arranged marriages goes back compatibility into the courtship mix. The second half Journal of
thousands of years, and there are plenty of stories of the 20th-century also saw more young women Antiques and Collectibles
throughout history and literature about the practice. choosing to delay marriage to have a life and build a is published monthly in digital
Fast forward to the 1500s and arranged marriages still career before settling down, and young people, in and bi-monthly in print by
occurred, especially among royalty and the upper general, taking a more cynical view of the institution. Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
classes in Europe and Asia. The middle classes Courtship today is best stated as an antique word. 46 Hall Road
elsewhere in the world soon followed in an effort to Glances around a ballroom to find someone that Sturbridge MA 01566.
improve their standing in society. catches your eye or discrete introductions from family
In Western European society, arranged marriages members have been replaced by dating apps that allow Periodicals postage paid at
were the norm until the late 1700s, when “personal you to swipe through potential candidates based on an Sturbridge MA.
choice of partners had replaced arranged marriages as a algorithm of compatibility. Candidates can then be
social ideal, and individuals were encouraged to marry pre-screened based on their social media profiles.
for love,” according to Stephanie Coontz, author Courtship, too, is changing. Technologies such as POSTMASTER:
of Marriage, a History. Still, social class, wealth, and Zoom allow people all over the world to make virtual, Send address changes to
suitability continued to place restrictions on a woman’s personal connections and carry on relationships. The Journal of Antiques
free will to choose the man of her dreams. Handwritten love letters, once cherished and forever and Collectibles
Arranged marriages among migrant families in the saved, have been replaced by the sending of texts and ISSN: (1539-5618)
United States were common well into the first half online chatting. P.O. Box 950
of the 20th century as a way to bring wives and their While the practice of courtship continues to change Sturbridge, MA 01566
families over from their hometowns. These were some- with the times, the intent behind the practice remains
times referred to as “picture-bride marriages” because unchanged, as does the hope we all share in finding The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
the bride and groom knew each other only through love and celebrating the occasion with the wedding of reserves the right to reject any advertising that
does not comply with our standards. The
the exchange of photographs before the day of their our dreams. Journal will not be liable for any errors or
marriage. As immigrants assimilated as Americans, omissions but will print a correction in the
following issue if notification of such error is
arranged marriages shifted to quasi-arranged marriages
sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
where parents or friends made introductions and the manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
couple met before the marriage, thus ensuring that writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
of unsolicited material.
marriage strengthened rather than weakened cultural
Copyright 2022
bonds and traditions. Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher All rights reserved

2 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles