“In love, social control of relatives has weakened”

Since the end of the 18th century and the first announcements in the press, the matrimonial market has always been criticized.

For what ?

This market makes visible the marital selection mechanisms that the company prefers to conceal. If the stigma has been constant for more than two centuries, what it aims at: in the 19th century for example, the post-revolutionary bourgeoisie seeks to consolidate itself as a class thanks to the wedding and the announcements highlight the income of the candidates. These economic strategies are criticized by the “good families” of the aristocracy which fear the Mesalliances.

What does the historical study of this market say on the couple?

It shows that the myth of the birth of “love marriage” in the 20th century is largely built. If the physical and moral criteria appear in the announcements during the interwar period, this does not mean that the feelings were absent before. In the 19th century, it is considered that, to love ourselves, assorted socio-economic conditions are needed. In the 20th century, an increasing individualization there was an increasing individualization of the spouse: everyone took charge of the meeting, where families once played a central role.

Is meeting a joint potential really more difficult today?

This feeling is in reality not new, however, several contemporary developments accentuate it. Now, singles suffer from the reduction of their friendly networks with age.

And the social control of relatives has weakened, each having become responsible for their marital career. Finally, meetings are privatized: they leave the usual relational framework, pushing to use devices such as applications.