II. Getting Married A. INTRODUCTION: PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE DIMENSIONS OF COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.

The article explores the public and private dimensions of courtship and marriage in the U.S. Dating not only transformed the outward modes and conventions of courtship in the country, it also changed the distribution of control and power in courtship. Technological innovations partly explains the surge in popularity of online dating. Marriage itself is a preformed status contract, which restricts the parties' freedom to choose their partners and of which they are not free to choose the terms.