Difference between revisions of "Sexual revolution"
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| − | The '''sexual revolution''' of the | + | The '''sexual revolution''' of the 1960s and 1970s was based on the ideas of three men: [[Sigmund Freud]], [[Alfred Kinsey]], and [[Hugh Hefner]]. |
Freud claimed that sexual desire could not be controlled or channeled without causing harm to one's psyche. In his model of [[mental illness]], [[repression]] would lead to [[neurosis]], because of the dictates of the [[unconscious mind]].{{fact}} | Freud claimed that sexual desire could not be controlled or channeled without causing harm to one's psyche. In his model of [[mental illness]], [[repression]] would lead to [[neurosis]], because of the dictates of the [[unconscious mind]].{{fact}} | ||
| − | + | Kinsey's work was the first to investigate sex from a scientific perspective, in violation of the taboos of the time. Much of Kinsey's research was highly controversial, turning the tools of statistics and anonymous surveys towards studying the sexual activities of large populations in ways that revealed 'unacceptable' sexual practices to be far more widespread than previously believed. | |
Most famously, Kinsey claimed that 10% of American men had some [[homosexual]] tendencies. This statistic is often incorrectly cited as '10% of American men are homosexual,' but includes not just homosexual men but also bisexuals, and heterosexual men who have recurring homosexual attractions, thoughts or fantasies even if these are not acted upon. | Most famously, Kinsey claimed that 10% of American men had some [[homosexual]] tendencies. This statistic is often incorrectly cited as '10% of American men are homosexual,' but includes not just homosexual men but also bisexuals, and heterosexual men who have recurring homosexual attractions, thoughts or fantasies even if these are not acted upon. | ||
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Prior to this seperation, all sexual relationships held some possibility of children, even if unintentional. This strongly discouraged sex before or outside of marriage. After the widespread availability of contraception, premarital sex became increasingly socially acceptable as it no longer posed so high a risk of creating children without a married family to raise them. Thus the sexual revolution was characterised by 'casual' sex, often early in a relationship, and a high occurance of promiscuity. | Prior to this seperation, all sexual relationships held some possibility of children, even if unintentional. This strongly discouraged sex before or outside of marriage. After the widespread availability of contraception, premarital sex became increasingly socially acceptable as it no longer posed so high a risk of creating children without a married family to raise them. Thus the sexual revolution was characterised by 'casual' sex, often early in a relationship, and a high occurance of promiscuity. | ||
| − | In response to the social consequences of the split between sex and reproduction, the Catholic Church | + | In response to the social consequences of the split between sex and reproduction, the Catholic Church forbade the use of all forms of contraception by its members in 1968<ref>http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html</ref>. This instruction is widely ignored by Catholics. Protestant churches instead choose to focus on re-emphasising the importance of marriage, abstinence and monogamy and on suppressing any public mention of contraception. The ultimate result of this approach was the modern [[abstinence-only]] sex education movement. |
| − | With | + | With pregnancy now an avoidable risk, [[sexually transmitted disease]]s came to be the principal disincentive towards promiscuity. Herpes and the [[AIDS epidemic]] raised the public awareness of the risks of STIs. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 19:42, May 8, 2007
The sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s was based on the ideas of three men: Sigmund Freud, Alfred Kinsey, and Hugh Hefner.
Freud claimed that sexual desire could not be controlled or channeled without causing harm to one's psyche. In his model of mental illness, repression would lead to neurosis, because of the dictates of the unconscious mind.[Citation Needed]
Kinsey's work was the first to investigate sex from a scientific perspective, in violation of the taboos of the time. Much of Kinsey's research was highly controversial, turning the tools of statistics and anonymous surveys towards studying the sexual activities of large populations in ways that revealed 'unacceptable' sexual practices to be far more widespread than previously believed.
Most famously, Kinsey claimed that 10% of American men had some homosexual tendencies. This statistic is often incorrectly cited as '10% of American men are homosexual,' but includes not just homosexual men but also bisexuals, and heterosexual men who have recurring homosexual attractions, thoughts or fantasies even if these are not acted upon.
Hefner's "playboy philosophy" was merely a retread of Hedonism, an entirely self-centered pleasure-based life (see also Utilitarianism).[Citation Needed]
The sexual revolution was in large part a consequence of greated availablity of contraception, particually easier access to condoms and the invention in the 1960's of the birth control pill, and in the 1970's with the legalization of abortion. Each of these served to further seperate sex from pregnency, thus introducing the possibility of sex purely for enjoyment with minimal risk of unwanted pregnency.
Prior to this seperation, all sexual relationships held some possibility of children, even if unintentional. This strongly discouraged sex before or outside of marriage. After the widespread availability of contraception, premarital sex became increasingly socially acceptable as it no longer posed so high a risk of creating children without a married family to raise them. Thus the sexual revolution was characterised by 'casual' sex, often early in a relationship, and a high occurance of promiscuity.
In response to the social consequences of the split between sex and reproduction, the Catholic Church forbade the use of all forms of contraception by its members in 1968[1]. This instruction is widely ignored by Catholics. Protestant churches instead choose to focus on re-emphasising the importance of marriage, abstinence and monogamy and on suppressing any public mention of contraception. The ultimate result of this approach was the modern abstinence-only sex education movement.
With pregnancy now an avoidable risk, sexually transmitted diseases came to be the principal disincentive towards promiscuity. Herpes and the AIDS epidemic raised the public awareness of the risks of STIs.