What Is Courtship?

More than anything, courtship is the start of a family. Family is the foundation of culture, and the centerpiece for new life. Each countries have roots set in traditions that set them apart, and a different practice of how to start a family. This paper will be a comparison and contrast between the common American, Amish, Puerto Rican, Greek, and South Koran courtship traditions and the value of marriage in society.

First, is the American culture and how courtship and marriage is viewed in today’s society. Since America is a blend of many religions and cultures, this analysis of courtship is based on the average American and the collective view of the majority. Currently, Americans feel that “They are in no rush” to marry or settle down with

The Amish, while most commonly located in America, have a completely different set of traditions and beliefs on a verity of issues, this of course, involves their perspective on courtship. For starters, “The usual age for courtship, called rumspringa, “running around”, begins for the boy at sixteen, and for the girl between fourteen and sixteen” (Hostetler, 1980, p. 148). Even though serious courtship begins early, the average age of marriage for men is between 22 and 24, women tend to be a year or so younger than their groom (Hostetler, 1918, p. 28). Marriage is taken very seriously in the Amish culture, and as such there are many rules and codes f conduct that are expected of the young adults looking for

Unlike both the American and Amish culture, the family is heavily involved in Puerto Rican courtships. For them, marriage is not seen as a chance for love, but more as “a union of two families” (Fitzpatrick, 1987, p. 71). As such the family is heavily involved throughout the entire couple’s courtship. Because of this “intermingling and dating is much more restricted” (p. 71). The First step in any courtship is for the boy to speak to the parents, specifically the father, of the women he wants to pursue (p. 71). Even if the boy and girl desire a relationship, “A serious courtship may never get started if the families disapprove” (p. 71). This is far removed from the Amish parents who play a blind eye to the relationships, and the American parents who have almost no say at