United Kingdom Life Stages: Dating and Courtship
Dating is common in Britain. The age at which young people begin dating is decreasing to the point that children are already looking to have a boyfriend or girlfriend before they become teenagers.
Picking a Partner
For most people in the UK, the choice of a spouse is primarily a personal decision. Individuals often select their own partners based on mutual attraction, love, and shared interests. Families may offer advice or opinions, but the ultimate decision typically rests with the individuals involved.
There is a high degree of sexual freedom, and males and females of all ages freely mingle with the opposite sex without any type of supervision. The most common places for meeting people are educational institutions, social events, parties, pubs, and nightclubs. Speed dating in bars and Internet dating are also popular with the younger generation. The cinema is a popular rendezvous for a first date.
Premarital sex is common in the UK, and by their late teens, many British men and women have had multiple sexual partners. Teenage pregnancy is high as a result of low rates of contraceptive use, despite its widespread availability.
A proposal for marriage is a private affair that involves only the two people concerned. It is the man who usually pops the question, and if the proposal is accepted, a celebration follows.
Interracial Dating
There is no taboo against cross-cultural or interracial dating, and religion does not typically influence the choice of partners. Socioeconomic standing, however, may exert some influence in the choice of partners, particularly in the upper social class.
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