vs. now

Socially and politically, Medieval society looked down upon marriage for the sake of romance.

Feudal alliances were important for maintaining political stability, and these alliances were cemented by marriages. The personal feelings of those being married were often not consulted.

Medieval Times

Hookup culture

he new economic realities of the 19th century cross-pollinated with the ideas that emerged from the Enlightenment about individual rights and the pursuit of happiness, and the result was an Age of Romanticism. The new ideal was not only to marry for love but that love was to live on forever.

1700s

& 1800s

dynamics and roles are changing,” licensed marriage we are navigating how to balance romantic and family relationships with these new responsibilities.”

Since the 2000s and the rise of many ways to contact another person through the Internet, hook-up culture has replaced the dating culture. The number of hookups is almost

During the 2000s, people had fewer expectations to marry their current partner. Dating was perceived as a casual way to spend time and have fun. Dating outside of one’s ethnicity or race became more common as more people immigrated and is now much more normalized.

1900s

& 2000s

“Because medieval marriages were arranged, they were often unhappy.”

Dr. Sheila Fisher Professor of English

Popular media and technology

Love is a common topic in books and movies, which often depict ideal relationships while normalizing signs of toxicity. Viewers don’t always recognize the harmful tropes and hope to experience similar situations in real life. In “The Notebook,” a popular novel and movie known for its “dreamy” love story, the male lead is overly obsessed with the female lead and emotionally abuses her after their breakup. However, it’s perceived as a romantic gesture to be praised rather than avoided. Social media and reliance on technology have also impacted our perceptions relationships, which creates unrealistic expectations for what romance should look like. scenes that you don’t see,” Tai said. “People portray the best of themselves online.” Technology has created some positive effects in the dating world. Facetime and texting facilitate long-distance relationships and allow couples to contact each other more often. With the increase in the popularity of dating apps, people looking for partners can easily meet new people in their area.