Importance of courtship

Importance of courtship
Courtship can be an important period to prepare for a successful marriage. The process has the following merits.

(a) Helps couples to know each other before marriage: The time for courtship is important for the couple to get to know each other better and have an understanding of their partnership. It is during the courtship period that men and women learn the character, strength, weakness, interests and goals of each other. The better understanding among the partners is the green light for the future and successful marriage.

(b) Allows partners to decide whether they want to get married or not: Once couples know each other better in terms of their characters, similarities and differences, they can decide whether they should get married or not. This is an imperative for a happy marriage.

(c) Assists partners to know their preference in marriage: The period of courtship is full of excitements and personal interest. It is during courtship that partners begin to make promises to each other, even if they know very little about the person they have met. Slowly, they begin to learn the meaning of keeping promises. Loyalty to promises eventually develops into commitments to certain aspects of life.

(d) Develops security: It is during courtship that a man presents his best and tries to gain the woman’s affection. Hence, courtship is usually one of the most special and memorable periods for a man and a woman. The efforts a man makes during courtship will make him value his wife and their relationship. At the same time, a woman will feel more secure in the expectations that her partner is willing to strive for her needs, security and intimacy in their future life.

(e) Develops understanding and acceptance’. One of the most important elements that contributes to the success of a relationship is understanding and acceptance. Because courtship allows the couple to know and value each other, it consequently gives them time to settle and moderate their differences. It can also nurture their strengths, if they want to pursue a strong relationship. It is such attributes which lead to love, life time commitment, understanding and acceptance among the partners.

(f) Formality: Although, it is much less formal than engagement, courtship is a little more formal than simply dating. It introduces a measure of formality into the relationship. In a real sense, courtship is a semi-public announcement that the two people are exploring the possibility of future life together as husband and wife. As a result, other people may develop a certain respect toward that relationship compared to dating.

(g) Develops self-discipline’. Courtship provides the couple with an opportunity to develop self-discipline. Without self-discipline, a man or woman can be disqualified by their partner or members of the family in which they are going to be married as husband or wife.

(h) Prepares partners for marriage’. Courtship helps partners to prepare themselves for marriage. This is because there are lot of things to be done before marriage by couple, relatives, neighbours and even friends. Partners need enough time to make various preparations and arrangements for their marriage. For example, courtship allows the couple to have ample time to acquire different basic requests or needs for marriage life such as house, furniture, cookers, fridge and dinner sets.