Women in the Victorian Era ~Part Two - Before Marriage and Social Ettiquette

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Before women were married they were not even able to speak to a man unless they were formally introduced. Even at a party a man and woman could not even converse during a dance unless the hostess had formally introduced them. No Christian names were used. Courting ettiqutte demands)as per the 1860s Book of Etiquette) that men should be prudent, good-natured, and practice sobriety. Always acting with dignified reserve. Women could not expect gifts from admirers, not even anonymously. A woman's virtue and honor must be guarded at all times. If not a woman could become ruined as far as the marriage market was concerned. The term "lovemaking" had a totally different usage than it does nowadays. Back then it had to do with the wooing done during courtship and was not the least bit sexual. Upon engagement, the couple could use their Christian names when addressing one another. They might write to one another and, by doing so they might see how compatible they were with one another. Engaged men gave their girlfriends constant attention. Sometimes they exchanged such gifts as a lock of hair or a photo. Other posts in this series: Part One https://www.mylot.com/post/3542540/women-in-the-victorian-age-part-one-womens-lives Part Three https://www.mylot.com/post/3542543/victorian-era-marriage-part-three-criminal-conversation