In America, dating is a typical norm within society. It is what usually happens before marriage and after puberty. It is amazing how dating norms vary across the world. The topic of lecture today was on dating habits in china, past vs. future and in comparison to Americas dating norms throughout the 20th century. We also discussed shortly the importance of feelings and how Chinese use this as a guideline for your first sexual experience, this to try to justify loosing ones virginity. I believe that history repeats itself and there is some connection between the evolution on the views of dating within the two cultures.

The history of the dating in china has changed dramatically with in the past few decades. It has evolved into a more contemporary view on the habits of dating. For instance, before 1980, dating was limited to occasional walks on the weekends, calling on the phone, and rarely spending small amounts of money. Dating, referred to as “petting”, was uncommon, but still existed. Those who dated at that time probably had intentions on marrying whoever they were dating. Dating drastically changed in the 1980’s. Dancehalls, which were considered deviant, were starting to make their way mainstream, and so did more contemporary views on dating-influenced by western culture. Dating at this time was not only for those who were to get married. More laid back interpretations started to arise.

Sex Education for Girls- 1950s (PART 1)

Sex Education for Girls- 1950s (PART 2)

Sex Education for Boys- 1950s (PART 1)

Sex Education for Boys- 1950s (PART 2)

By 1990, the once conservative attitude (about sex) and emphasis to preserve marriage were replaced with a more liberated view with an emphasis in consumption and spending. The more current views in regards to the issue of marriage contain an emphasis on dating before marriage. They also believe that love should be a justification for sex, not marriage. As of now, dating combines both traditional and modern views which are influenced greatly due to market reform.

The evolution of sex and sexuality in the United States has also undergone a significant transformation within the last decade. Similiar to the traditional Chinese view, virginity was seen as valued. Sex before marriage was considered immoral. A large portion of society at the time was influenced greatly by the church. The church was against sexual intercourse before marriage.

Courtship behaviors on the other hand were somewhat different. The western world evolved more quickly in this aspect. It was not uncommon for a young couple in the early to late sixties to go out on dates. Granted their dates consisted of maybe going to a movie, or meeting up with other friends as a group, they were still accepted in the culture. By the 1990’s it was not uncommon for couples to be living together, even if they knew they were not going to marry that person. The thought of virginity was not seen as highly as that of the Chinese in shanghai.

Feelings, for the most part, are the basis for loosing one’s virginity, although there are the select few of the population that do infact wait until marriage to have sex. Today, sex is what is normal and to be abstinent is uncommon. Loosing your virginity in western cultures is strongly associated with love. When you are young and had not experienced sex for the first time the sexual script for America would be to wait till you were in love and share it with that person.

On side here is a video featuring Emily Oster speaking and showing items relating AIDS which is cause from sex.

Video (Today’s Education):

Emily Oster: What do we really know about the spread of AIDS?