ished codes of conduct. The female in this era had control of the courtship process because the social domain was controlled by females. Women controlled the days they would be accessible to callers. Gentlemen callers would present themselves with a card, and then be welcomed in or rejected by the family maid. The actual call was comprised of a variety of activities, but there were complicated and elaborate rules that were designed to structure the entire call. These helped shape the power relations of this eraÆs sexual conduct, ôNineteenth century Americans had part
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