What Dating Was Like In the Victorian Era

Dating in the Victorian era in America and in Britain meant navigating through a fog of modesty, prudence, ritual, corsets, top hats, calling cards, and your inner voice feverishly whispering etiquette book platitudes: "There is no propriety in voluntarily prolonging your ride, with a young gentleman, till after dark!" "Nothing can take the place of true genuine manhood!"

Etiquette books were all the rage at the time, advising men and women on Victorian courtship rituals and what it means to be a proper lady or manly gentleman.

#VictorianEra #DatingHistory #WeirdHistory

[mosquitobight]

"My dear, we have been engaged for five years now, so I wonder if we might start holding hands..."

[cseguin]

"Hooking up" in the Victorian era meant having tea with your boy/girlfriend whilst sitting on separate sofas in a parlor chaperoned by at least 2 adults . . .

[pixiebubbles]

Can we, like, bring some of this back? Modern dating sucks.

[billybobjoefred]

me at night: hmm, i’m bored
youtube: dating in the victorian era?

[brendencampbell]

Back when you went to the Pub and bragged about seeing ankles.

[moseswilliams]

“Maintain a dignified reserve”
Don’t get too thirsty.

[raya]

Victorian Era: Don’t give false hope or make a declaration in a jesting manner
Now: Fake proposal prank/I love you video prank/ Telling my friend I want to date (her/him) prank

[katherinelewey]

“No kissing. But feel free to exchange hair!” Thank god I still can exchange hair

[GucciPucciMIH]

“So what happened today?”
“I saw a girl’s knees.”
“Godspeed Sir!”
“Indeed.”

[julies]

“Neither party should try and make the other jealous” Sound advice that still rings true.

[jules]

do i live in the victorian era? no
do i have hours of overdue homework? yes
do i need to know about dating in the past? no way
do i have literally any reason to watch this video? no
am i going to watch the entire thing? definitely

[ChrysanthsMum]

Someone should start a dating app based on these principles. They’d be a billionaire. Not all people want to live and die in the fast lane.

[kenebbepena]

"No kissing, but feel free to exchange hair."😂😂😂😂

[Indiegirl]

I actually find some of these rules to be quite refreshing. The walking closest to the street, helping her in and out of the train, not being too forward, being honest about his intentions.
I'll take this.

[mizzymsp]

ladies literally all we need to do is keep emphasising that this behavior is really attractive. that will bring this back. we need this on a big scale, why tf are we just putting up with careless men who gave up on manners?
now I understand this youtuber’s opinions on “traditional feminism”, why should we devalue ourselves and just put up with shitty treatment? we should always go for high quality men like this. I KNOW judging from how everyone is so positive about this, that you want this quality in men.

[melindaweasenforth]

My husband was born and raised in West Virginia and until he ended up extremely sick and passing away, he held my hand and also kept me to the inside area of the road....we had 42 years together before he passed away... four kids, 16 grandkids and 6 great grandkids...we dated for four days before we got married he was my soulmate

[ahaha]

"Not every young woman is eager to fall in love with you" SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE NECKBEARDS IN THE BACK

[MagicianFairy]

Women were encouraged to refuse gifts. A smart man who knew this would send empty boxes.

[ntho]

In reality, 90% of these still hold true. The other 10% on on a sliding scale of contemporary acceptance. Respect, communication, truthfulness, and honorability are timeless. If you actually practice them, they make all relationships healthier. It is odder that this is brought up as being "weird".

[brittneystreeter]

My Great Grandma was 16 when she met my Great Grandpa and he was 26 🤢, he gave her a bracelet while pursing her and her father said “you shouldn’t accept gifts from men like that they’ll expect something in return”, she responded with “he knows I don’t have a job, what could I give him?” Her dad wasn’t happy with her response. 😂