In November 1938, the first Sadie Hawkins Day was held to provide women everywhere the opportunity to pursue the objects of their desires. Today, single women in the United States are open to being romantically assertive all year long. In a Match.com survey of more than 800 single adults, 87 percent of the women surveyed said either they would make, or would at least consider making, the first romantic move if really attracted to someone, while only 83 percent of men surveyed indicated this.
Shyness, fear of rejection and overall dating jitters may be more prevalent among men today than women, as 17 percent of men, and only 13 percent of women, indicated they were too shy or fearful of rejection to make the first move when they were really attracted to someone.
"I am the outgoing one, he is the shy one!" said Heather Filipowicz, now married to a man she met on Match.com. "I was a little nervous about contacting him first, but I am a pretty independent and strong-minded woman, so I emailed him. I actually don't think Joe (her husband) ever thought twice about the fact I contacted him first."
For other self-assured women like Filipowicz, making the first move online proved to be highly successful in building a loving, lasting relationships. In a survey of more than 300 married people who met on Match.com, 27 percent of women said they made the first move when they contacted their current husband via email.
"With more than a decade of helping single people connect with each other, we know that the more proactive our Match.com members are, the more successful they will be in their search for someone special," said Kristin Kelly, senior director of public relations for Match.com. "Online relationship sites are unique because they allow women and men to pre-screen potential dates and make the first move via email, which is often less intimidating than walking up to a stranger in a club, at a bar or even at the gym."
Match.com is inviting singles to celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day by taking advantage of the service's three-day free trial, which includes the ability to view multiple photos, send and receive email, and manage connections with other members. More than 60,000 new people register on the site every day, joining the 15 million people who use Match.com to help them find love. In fact, a WeddingChannel.com study showed that 12 percent of engaged or married couples met online, and more said they met on Match.com than any other site.
"I always wanted a guy who was funny, but yet mature and professional," Filipowicz said. "In Joe's profile picture, he had a plastic lei around his head but was wearing a nice shirt and tie. I knew I had to talk to him, and I'm glad I made the first move."
Not all dating practices have seen similar progress, however. In certain instances, old fashioned courtship rituals still apply. Match.com reports that 71 percent of singles surveyed still expected men to pay for the Valentine's Day date. Similarly, in an August 2004 survey of more than 1,400 single people, 47 percent of women said if a potential romantic partner does not open the car door for her, it could be a relationship "deal breaker."
About Sadie Hawkins Day
Not a typical holiday, Sadie Hawkins Day is the invention of Al Capp, creator of the Li'l Abner comic strip. Capp conceived of a day in his fictional Dogpatch, U.S.A., when all the unmarried ladies could pursue (literally) their men. If caught, the hapless bachelors were soon trudging down the aisle. This fictional world so captured people's imaginations that Sadie Hawkins Day passed into the realm of modern folklore. According to the Old World Almanac, the first Sadie Hawkins Day took place on Wednesday, November 9, 1938, but it's usually celebrated on the nearest Saturday to accommodate all the "girls-ask-boys" school dances and other events. This year, Sadie Hawkins Day will be celebrated on November 12.
About Match.com
Match.com pioneered online personals when it launched on the Web in 1995 and continues to lead this exciting and evolving category after a decade. Throughout its 10-year history, Match.com has redefined the way people meet and fall in love and is credited with more marriages than any other site. Today, more than 15 million people around the world participate in the Match.com community, providing a rich tapestry of ethnicities, interests, goals, ambitions, quirks, looks and personalities from which to choose.
Match.com is the world's biggest online dating and personals property, according to the August 2005 global ranking of the Personals category by industry-leading independent measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. Number one across North America and Europe, Match.com operates leading subscription- based online dating sites in 32 countries, in 18 languages and spanning six continents. Match.com also powers online dating on MSN across Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America and is the premier provider of personals for Love@AOL. Match.com is an operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI).
SOURCE: Match.com
CONTACT: Liz Entwistle of Match.com , +1-214-576-9321, or
liz.entwistle@match.com
Web site: http://www.match.com/