The Debutante Tradition Thrives

Guest: Kristen Richardson, author of "The Season: A Social History of the Debutante" Debutante culture emerged when Henry VIII split from the Catholic church, and the nobility could no longer send their "excess" daughters to convents. The practice seems antiquated today, but the tradition of debutante balls is alive and well (or it was before the pandemic). What's the point when young women have so many options for career and marriage partners? The answer involves geopolitics, business, and personal ambition.