Sexual revolution

The sexual revolution was a substantial change in sexual morality and sexual behavior throughout the West in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The trigger for the revolution was the development of the birth control pill in 1960, which gave women access to easy and reliable contraception.

Historical development

The sexual revolution was an outgrowth of a process in recent history. It was a development in the modern world which saw the collapse of the values of a morality rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and the rise of permissive societies, of attitudes that were accepting of greater sexual freedom and experimentation that spread all over the world and were captured in the phrase free love.

Related Topics:
Modern world - Values - Morality - Judeo-Christian - Permissive societies - Free love

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This was a perhaps a throwback to over 2,000 years ago during the times of ancient Greece and Rome that provided the Graeco-Roman component of Western culture. During those times there was a different sexual and moral code. There were specific gods of love like the Greek Eros, from whom the word "erotic" is derived, and the Roman Cupid, who is the center of the modern Valentine's Day. In Greek mythology these characters seduced, romanced, made love, lusted, cheated, and even raped each other in very graphic and colorful ways. This can be contrasted with the teachings of the Christian Church.

Related Topics:
Ancient Greece - Rome - Graeco-Roman - Eros - Cupid - Valentine's Day - Greek mythology

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The power of religion as wielded by the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches of Europe was radically undermined by the French Revolution of 1789 which saw the First Estate the clergy and the Second Estate made up of the ancient regime (nobles) give way to the power of the Third Estate of the peasants and bourgeoisie which surged towards a secular way of life. It was this kind of Marxism and psychoanalysis that set up the main idea that capitalism demanded much self-restraint and the bourgeoisie had forged an identity around the confinement of sexuality within the private domain of the heterosexual family.

Related Topics:
Religion - Catholic - Orthodox - Protestant - Churches - French Revolution - 1789 - First Estate - Second Estate - Third Estate - Peasants - Bourgeoisie - Secular

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