FROM COURTING TO DATING: WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT DATE?

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

was seen as an act of humiliation for the man. Women had to abide by rules too. A big no was the application of makeup in public. No touchups at all. Kissing on the first date was also frowned upon. It is rare to hear about these traditions happening today.

In the 1960s, the language of dating changed. The word courting had been replaced with "going out." Dates were no longer stuffy with formalities. Dating has become less formal and more casual in attire and activity. Men and women met in social settings through family and friends. Families were supervised less. Couples began to do more than kiss, but they lacked sex education.Little was known about sex and contraception, so couples sometimes found themselves dealing with unwanted pregnancies, bringing shame to the expectant mother and her family. Dating activities were similar to those in the previous decade.

The seventies made way for the feminist movement. Women began to desire more for themselves than the roles of mother and wife.They wanted love, family, and a career. The self-discovery of women also made them more free with their bodies. Men and women learned more about their bodies, sex, unwanted pregnancies, and even STDs. With this knowledge, the rule of not kissing on the first date gradually gave way to something much more touching. Women knew they had a choice and didn’t have to blindly follow the man. They still expected common etiquette, but they did order for themselves and stop feeling inferior to the man. This attitude affected dating because women raised their standards as they demanded more for themselves.

Dates started to move from the basic dinner and a movie to more elaborate expressions of love. Dates were no longer chaperoned. Chivalry hadn’t died yet. The more popular term for dating was going steady. Fashion was on the rise, so the first date look became super important. This trend continued well into the 1990s. People were still relying on family and friends to introduce them to their potential mates. Everyone was being introduced to the internet, making bars and coffee shops great places for first dates. Instead of relying on beauty or a built physique, potential mates began to look at the inner person to determine their good qualities.People talked to each other in person, as cell phones had not yet taken over communication.

The arrival of the 2000s and beyond marked the beginning of the technological age, which shaped dating as we know it today.Although Match. com pioneered online dating in 1995, it didn’t really take off since it was so new and different. Flowers were always great date gifts for a lady. The more meaningful ones became those that had a more personal touch, like the infamous mixtapes of the 1990s that evolved into the romantic playlist of a CD to set the mood. People were really embracing the internet, as long conversations were held on the phone until one of you fell asleep. Or you woke up the next day with bags under your eyes from hanging out in online chat rooms all night. Dating began texting more, leaving fewer voicemails to set up meetings, and meeting online first before meeting in person.

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Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez have announced a gun buyback at Deussen Park on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to noon. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also attended the news conference. The event is part of Harris County’s initiatives to prevent gun violence. This is the third gun buyback co-sponsored by Harris County Precinct One in seven months, resulting in about 2,000 firearms being taken off the street. Residents will be able to turn in firearms in exchange for gift cards worth $50, $100, $150, or $200 at the upcoming