Date of Award
Spring 2018
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Political Science
First Advisor
Hannah Haksgaard , J.D.
Second Advisor
Dr. Sara Lampert
Third Advisor
Joleen Pietrzak
Keywords
Dating, Dating Patterns, Factors, Relationship, College, Women
Abstract
This Honors Thesis discusses the historical and present-day patterns of dating and dating factors. Dating has evolved throughout the years, and the factors women seek in potential partners have also shifted. The question this Honors Thesis plans to examine is; what are the current factors women seek in potential partners, and what possibly could have caused the various shifts in dating factors. These questions are examined by researching historical surveys and patterns from the 1930s to present-day. Starting in 1930, the thesis looks at the factors women in college looked for in a potential partner. The goals of dating or the purpose of dating are examined to see why women date. Wars and social movements are examined in this thesis as possible causes for the shift in dating norms. The thesis then discusses the creation of new social norms, and theorizes how “traditional dating” ended, and the creation of open relationships shifted the factors women looked for. The analysis portion of this thesis will inform the reader how the dating atmosphere has shifted throughout history, and what the current factors and goals are for present-day college women.
Recommended Citation
Allen, Jessica, "Who’s Your Perfect Person? A Study about Dating and Dating Factors" (2018). Honors Thesis. 5.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/5