Defining certain things could complicate things, depending on the point of view or belief – things could mean differently. Say, for instance, courtship. In some religious groups or practices, courtship is said to be where a man and woman seek to determine if it God’s will for them to marry each other. The parents, some mentors or other couples in their group helps them through guidance – they help them have a deep, meaningful friendship that would eventually lead to marriage.
That is one way of seeing courtship, while for Gen X or millennials, courtship is a stage which they undergo before a couple officially dates each other. The man would give gifts to the woman he likes, get on dates with her, and even visit the woman in her house from time to time – all for being officially dating.
Sometimes this is one-sided because courtship meant a man is choosing a woman he likes but the feeling does not necessarily have to be mutual for courtship to start. Some courtships end in being let down because the woman does not like the man who’s courting her.
Courtship, when you think about it, is an essential part of building successful relationships. Maintaining courtships for longer periods is not as evident nowadays, but important nonetheless. Commitment and romance are two different things but are needed for relationships to survive. Friendship, along with courtship, serves as stepping stones and foundation for these relationships.
Modern courtship is way different than the Filipino courtship traditions we used to have. For the most part, we are given an idea as to wh