What it Meant to Date in the 1950's

What it Ment to Date in the 1950's

Good Guy Swag- Going steady isn't a term you hear any more. In the 50's, it was a common term that couple used to declare their commitment to each other and in a way, was a way to prepare them for marriage. There are a few symbolic gestures couples used during that time.

Typical Gestures

"Visible tokens" such a class ring, letter sweater, a pin, etc. were given to the girl or they both would exchange friendship rings worn on the third finger of their left hand. Other gestures like carving their initials on a tree, the girl can wear a "Puppy Love Anklet" showed either she was in a committed relationship or single and ready to go steady. One of these common traditions still practiced today among fraternities, pinning. During a pinning ceremony, " a fraternity member gives his fraternity pin to a woman in a sorority, symbolizing that he values his girlfriend more than his house." according to Beth Baily author of From Front Porch to Back Seat. This can be seen as a pre-engagement gesture.
Dates in the 1950's were intentional and planned in advance. It wasn't appropriate for a boy to ask a girl out and take her that day, it usually took days of planning. Pizza parlors, malt shops, record stores, or drive-ins are a few typical places dates would be held.
Baily also mentioned, "Neither boy nor girl could date anyone else or pay too much attention to anyone of the opposite sex." And with that being said, if the couple was to hang out with friends of the opposite sex, the couple had to tell the other what they were doing.
Going steady also meant that there was a guaranteed date when a special event was coming up. And while the boyfriend was expected to pay for dates, the boy and girl shared expenses when it came to proms and formals. These type of events can become expensive. This mirrored commitment found in marriage. Budgeting together wasn't an uncommon thing.
A couple of other gestures are more physical than token like. If you haven't seen Pleasantville, "parking" can be viewed in the movie as a way for couples to be alone and practice "necking" and "petting.' Couples would park at an overlook, drive-in, or a less traveled road. Necking was defined as "caresses above the neck" and petting as "caresses below."

Custom Pins

It is obvious that society has changed regarding dating and while pinning is a common practice in some colleges, we don't see it in the dating world anymore. Now we see pins that represent our achievements in school in activities such as ATSSB, TMEA, and UIL events. At Southwest Emblem, we offer a selection of durable, high-quality pins. If you're looking for custom pins, look no further. You can also visit our website to view our selection of in-stock pins at www.southwestemblem.com.

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