Sexual+Revolution

Sexual Revolution **Overview ** During the 1960s and 1970s, the Western world experienced shifts in ideology which stemmed heavily from American counter-culture and changed the way sexuality was viewed. This “sexual revolution” blurred the lines of what was seen as appropriate sexual behavior and opened up the communication lines for a previously taboo subject matter (Seidman, 1989). While there have been several “sexual revolutions” recorded throughout history, that of the 1960s is generally credited as the one which led to the most visible changes in society. While some condemned the revolution’s ideologies, its influence was undeniable, especially among young adults, college students, women and homosexuals. While it had many facets, the revolution most notably emphasized the legitimacy of sex outside the typical heterosexual marriage and for reasons other than reproduction (Allyn, 2001).

**History ** Many credit the revolution’s beginning, at least in part, to the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960 (Johnston, 1998). This new technology meant that those that could afford it were now able to take greater control of their reproduction and sexuality (Allyn, 2001). The possibility of intercourse without the concern of unwanted pregnancy opened up exciting new sexual possibilities which were embraced by many at the time and especially by the “hippies”. In reaction to 1950s conservatism, the “hippie” counter-culture that emerged in the 1960s promoted freedom, tolerance, self-expression and hedonism, all of which were applied to the emergence of a new sexuality. In the face of the Vietnam War, these revolutionaries proposed that people “make love, not war” (Allyn, 2001).

Previously seen a means for reproduction or as a special privilege between married, heterosexual couples, the liberalization which occurred alongside the revolution meant that many were now accepting, and experimenting with, sex in a variety of relational settings, including homosexuality, pre-marital sex, group sex and “swinging” (Seidman, 1989). In general, the sexual revolution helped to legitimize sex outside of marriage for pleasure or communicative, rather than solely reproductive, purposes. Mass media is often credited as giving the revolution its widespread traction; the fact that most Americans had televisions by the revolution’s beginning meant that the counter culture’s views were easily broadcast and spread across the country (Johnston, 1998).

Perhaps more than anywhere, the sexual revolution was highly visible on college campuses. During this period, many young college women began using birth control, co-ed dorms became prevalent and students actively protested sexual repression (Johnston, 1998). These young, single, educated and politically-minded youth embraced the revolution’s ideologies to a greater extent than probably any other group. The media paid especially close attention to college campuses and made them the feature of many media stories, highlighting, and often exaggerating, the way America’s youth were obsessed with sex and drugs (Johnston, 1998). Other forms of media, such as music, film and literature were also strongly influenced by the revolution and portrayed nudity and sexual-related topics at an increasing rate, as evident in the increased popularity with magazines such as //Playboy// and //Cosmopolitan// during the period (Seidman, 1989). In 1966, [|William H. Masters] and  [|Virginia E. Johnson]  published their groundbreaking work //Human Sexual Response//  //, //which dispelled many myths about sex and, perhaps most notably, emphasized women’s capability of enjoying sex and experiencing orgasms (Johnston, 1998).

**Consequences ** The sexual revolution is generally credited as influencing a shift in society’s views towards a more tolerant attitude towards sexuality. While not everyone supported these more liberal views, this alteration of values on such a massive scale had important and numerous consequences for the way people communicated (Sandbrook, 2005). Because sex was now being recognized as natural, enjoyable and important to relationships, there was far more open discussion on the subject, especially regarding techniques and advice, which would have been shocking in previous generations. Sexual experimentation was now seen as healthy and pornography became more readily accessible and acceptable and it was increasingly acceptable for people to engage in sex with multiple partners and outside of wedlock (Blum, 2002). With sex was now being seen as a hedonistic activity, the revolution also meant that more open discussion within relationships was acceptable and necessary to achieve satisfaction in relationships (Seidman, 1989). Information regarding sexual techniques also became more readily available in mainstream magazines and books. The sexual revolution was closely correlated with the Civil rights, women’s movement and gay movement of the time. Women were seeking equality in all areas of life and began to explore their equality as sexual creatures (Johnston, 1998) and gays were increasingly open about their sexuality, culminating in the Stonewall riots of 1969 (Allyn, 2001).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In books such as the landmark 1962 manifesto //Sex and the Single Girl// by Helen Gurley Brown, women were being encouraged to embrace and use, rather than hide, their sexuality (Allyn, 2001). This was revolutionary because prior to then, women were expected to endure sex as a wifely duty; they were certainly not supposed to enjoy sex too much or shamelessly discuss enjoying sex. Women went from being receptacles of sex to active participants in what Brown viewed as the end of the double standard women faced regarding their sexuality (Johnston, 1998). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Men, on the other hand, were being encouraged to explore their sensitivity and creativity and fight the stereotype that they should always be stoic, dominant and aggressive. The prurient views that women experienced sex for emotional pleasure while sex for men was solely physical were being challenged (Blum, 2002). However, though the times saw an increase in liberal thinking, conservative ideology kept its presence and traditional views about gender and sexuality often endured (Allyn, 2001).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In the political arena, the sexual revolution spurred a series of controversial decisions. Many states repealed sodomy laws and loosened divorce procedures, making it easier for people to experience sexuality in non-hetero or non-traditional marriage relationships (Stringer, 1997). In 1973, the extremely //Roe v. Wade// case legalized abortion (Allyn, 2001). There was also a trend of literary censorship practices being challenged, leading eventually to more available media with sexual references (Allyn, 2001). This was both a result of and a trigger of the perceived need for more open communication, especially in regards to sexuality. This carried over into the education system, as well, where students found themselves in revamped sexual education courses which replaced scare tactics with more explicit and practical information (Allyn, 2001).

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Criticisms ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The sexual revolution is often criticized as having contributed to more risky sexual behaviors and an increase in STIs, especially during the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s (Malhotr, 2008). Conservatives and religious groups, particularly Christians, were appalled by the increased acceptance of having multiple partners, sex outside marriage, homosexuality and self-indulgence (Stringer, 1997). As a group, women were split on their opinions of the revolution. Some feminists saw it as a way for women to assert their independence and legitimacy of sexual beings while others condemned it for sexualizing women (Allyn, 2001). Many also criticize the legitimacy of the sexual revolution as an actual revolution and argue that its influence is often exaggerated (Stringer, 1997).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In the late 1970s, general feeling against sexual permissiveness developed, which many credit with dampening the sexual revolution (Malhotr, 2008). Further, by the 1990s, it was being reported in the media that the fear of AIDs was resulting in a rejection of one-night stands in favor of a return to monogamy and “safer”, more traditional, forms of sex (Johnston, 1998).

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">References ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Allyn, D. (2001). //Make love, not war: the sexual revolution, an unfettered history//. New York: Routledge.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Blum, V. (2002). The Liberation of Intimacy: Consumer-object relations and (Hetero) Patriarchy. //Antipode,// 845-861.

=<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Johnston, A. (1998). Mass Media and the Sexual Revolution. //<span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia //<span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">. 380-382. = = = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Malhotr, S. (2008). Impact of the Sexual Revolution: Consequences of Risky Sexual Behavior. //Journal of American Physicians and Surgeon, 13,// 87-87.

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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sandbrook, D. (2005). The swingers who never were. // New Statesman, //28-29. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Seidman, S. (1989). Constructing Sex as a Domain of Pleasure and Self-expression: Sexual Ideology in the Sixties. //Theory Culture Society, 6,// 293-314.

Stringer, M. (1997). Expanding the Boundaries of Sex: An Exploration of Sexual Ethics after the Second Sexual Revolution. //<span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Theology & Sexuality: The Journal of the Institute for the Study of Christianity & Sexuality,4, //<span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">27-44.