It's quite endearing to watch old-time cinemas; the lingo, the conservative yet prim and proper clothing, but above all, the respect men had for the women. From a young age, little boys were taught to be nothing short of a gentleman and little girls to always be ladylike. In the 1950s, students were taught how to date and have good, clean fun. Teeny boppers were shown films in class on the ins and outs of dating with guidelines on how to have "good, clean fun" (much like our sex-ed classes). This era surely had refined and defined relationships down to a science. Some dating etiquette may be a little too old-fashioned to salvage now, but here are a few that are worth holding on to.
1. Guys always asked the girls on dates.
Back then, it wasn't acceptable for a girl to ask a guy on a romantic outing. When a guy saw something he liked, he would muster up the courage to ask a girl for her time. His intentions were always made clear in person. Traditionally, double dating was extremely common, as having the company of others helped the initial awkwardness in the air. It was also a great way to create a more comfortable environment for the conversation to flow.
After double dating, the pressure of not knowing what to say or do on a traditional date would subside. These days, it's not unusual for a girl to engage interest in a guy before he does, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, if you're looking for a meaningful relationship where you know he sought you out not the other way around, then it's best to let the guy feel the rush of nerves when approaching you while you enjoy the flattery.
2. Guys chased the girls.
This rule seems to have done a flip flop in our dating culture today. Back then, if a girl wanted nothing to do with a guy, he would most likely find ways to sway her decision. He would make her feel special by his incessant romantic gestures, letting her know that she is the only one he has plans on pursuing.
Unfortunately, we girls have a serious problem with chasing guys; we want to be the only one they want, we wanted to be wanted so much that when we receive attention, we sometimes push our limits. The simple fact is that if he isn't the one chasing, then you're only showing him how much you value his validation of your worth. Make yourself scarce; cultivate higher standards by reminding yourself you're worth the chase for a change.
3. Opening the door for girls.
On a romantic outing, you wouldn't expect a girl to open the door to a car or restaurant if a guy was around to do it. It's a small gesture that makes a huge difference. Today it's a tradition that's slowly losing practice. On one hand, guys seem to think that if girls are pushing for gender equality, then we can open our own doors; on the other hand, some girls find it offensive, feeling as if the guy doesn't think she can handle opening a door on her own. Do society a favor and toss these nonsense thoughts out the window.
Once I had a boyfriend who opened every door I ever came close to, and he never stopped even after a year. The gesture never lost its magic, but by no means did feel differently about the next guy for not doing it as much. I will say how upsetting it is when you do make it a point to return the gesture by opening the door for a guy and he doesn't even say thank you. You can bet your bottom dollar that wouldn't fly in the '50s.
4. No kissing on the first date.
Kissing on the first date was considered moving too fast. Oftentimes, if the guy tried to do so, the girl would refuse and end it right then and there. This sign of affection was normally reserved for when a couple decided to go steady. It's typical for a kiss to occur in our dating society today.
Depending on how well the date went, that would lead one to make "the first move." Although it may seem old-fashioned, this is a great practice we've forgotten to preserve. By choosing to not kiss on the first date, you're making your intentions clear. It's far more respected to be genuine, showing interest in their qualities rather than their physical attributes.
5. To keep someone waiting is rude.
Hot rods would arrive to pick up their dates not a minute too late. He would knock on the door (not honk his horn) and engage in polite conversation with her and her parents as they discussed their plans for the night. There was no such thing as being "fashionably late." A girl was expected to be ready when her date arrived, any longer than five minutes after would be extremely rude. This is still somewhat true today, except we may keep a date waiting longer than they need to without spoiling the mood. Try not to do this, as it can come off inconsiderate of what your date has planned. You want to avoid him thinking you weren't as excited as he was for the night.
Now, let's put some old school flair into our dating affairs. Who knows? It might what bring us that much closer to impressing the one!
