Sex and Manners

Sex and Manners is dazzling book that examines changes in American, Dutch, English and German manners books regarding the changing relationship between men and women. It examines the disappearance of rules for chaperonage and the rise of new codes for public transport, public dances, courting, dates and the work place. This original and thought-provoking book: provides empirical evidence showing in detail how the balance of power between the sexes has increased in women\'s favour; monitors the changes in codes regarding sexuality; focuses on general trends as well as on national differences, particularly between the general trends in the USA and Europe; reports changing answers to the question of the balance between the longing for sexual gratification and the longing for enduring intimacy. This is a major work of great accomplishment combining historical material with sociological, psychological and cultural analysis of a high order.