Critical Social Inquiry 0149 - The Hist. of Love & Dating

How have people fallen in love and with whom? What can we learn about our society and culture through examinations of the history of our dating practices and trends? This is an introductory social and cultural history course that explores the changes and continuities of dating and courtship beginning in the 19th century to the present. Through an examination of the seemingly private sphere of love and romance, this course analyzes the public discourse of social and cultural norms that guided, monitored, regulated, and reinforced the boundaries of not only sexuality but also gender, race, and class. Topics include Victorian ideal of love and intimacy, romantic friendship and the making of homosocial/sexual cultures, working-class and immigrant women's challenges to middle-class gender norms at the turn of the 20th century, the shift from "calling" to "dating," interracial marriages, acceptability of cohabitation without marriage, and immergence of professional dating services and online dating. Students will be heavily immersed in identifying and interpreting primary sources.

Power, Community and Social Justice Writing and Research Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.