She Says The 1960s Sexual Revolution Began In The Conservative 1950s. Is She Right?

I made the interview which this clip is a part of in 1989 with Elaine Tyler May, an American historian recognized for her work in 20th-century American history with a particular focus on the intersection of gender, sexuality, politic, and culture. She is the Regents Professor of American Studies and History at the University of Minnesota. May’s work examines the social, political, and cultural changes of post-World War II America. Some of her notable books include “Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era,“ where she discusses how the Cold War and nuclear-age anxieties influenced societal norms and family dynamics in the 1950s and 1960s, and “Barren in the Promised Land: Childless Americans and the Pursuit of Happiness,“ in which she explores how societal attitudes towards fertility and childlessness have evolved in American history. In her writings on the 1950s, May explored how American political and cultural anxieties influenced personal lives, social norms and family structures. She presented how these changes laid the foundation for social movements of the 1960s and 1970s, including feminism and the sexual revolution. The Sexual Revolution also known as a time of Sexual Liberation was a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the Western world from the 1960s to the 1980s. It led to major changes in attitudes towards sex, birth control, and women’s rights, and had a profound impact on society. Perhaps the most significant change during this period was the advent and acceptance of the birth control pill (approved by the FDA in 1960). This gave women unprecedented control over their own fertility and reproductive health, separating sex from procreation in a way that had not been possible before. This increased their ability to engage in sexual relationships on their own terms, leading to greater sexual freedom. The Sexual Revolution was also marked by significant changes in law and societal attitudes. In 1965, the U.S. Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut struck down state laws prohibiting contraceptive use by married couples. Additionally, the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion nationwide. Moreover, attitudes towards premarital sex became more liberal, and sex outside of traditional heterosexual marriage became more accepted. The 1960s was a time of significant social and political upheaval, with the counterculture and youth movements of the time playing a key role in promoting sexual liberation. The hippie movement, with its ideals of free love and rejection of traditional values, had a major influence on society’s views on sex. The Women’s Liberation Movement, which gained momentum in the 1960s and ’70s, campaigned for women’s rights and equality, including sexual liberation. Feminists like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem argued against the subjugation of women in society, and for the right to sexual expression and enjoyment. The Sexual Revolution also saw increased visibility and acceptance of homosexuality. The Stonewall riots in 1969 were a pivotal moment, marking the start of the modern gay rights movement. Throughout the 1970s, the movement continued to campaign for equal rights and societal acceptance, leading to significant, though gradual, changes in public attitudes and legislation. Media and popular culture also played a significant role in the Sexual Revolution. Books like Helen Gurley Brown’s “Sex and the Single Girl“ and the launch of the magazine “Cosmopolitan“ promoted the idea of female sexual empowerment. Sex education became more common and frank discussions about sex and sexuality in media and public discourse gradually became more acceptable. The term “free love“ during the 1960s was tied to a broader social and cultural revolution, and it represented a radical departure from traditional norms and values regarding sexuality and relationships. “Free love“ was the belief that individuals should have the freedom to engage in sexual relationships without societal or institutional restrictions or judgments. Essentially, it meant that sexual activity should be a matter of personal choice and could occur outside of traditional structures like marriage. The free love movement challenged conventions of monogamy, marriage, and the nuclear family, and it promoted ideas of communal living and open relationships. The term is often associated with the counterculture and youth movements of the 1960s and 70s, such as the hippie movement, which embraced ideals of peace, love, and communal living. It was intertwined with other social and cultural movements of the time, including the feminist movement and the gay rights movement. The concept of free love was also facilitated by the advent of reliable birth control, such as the contraceptive pill, which allowed for sexual activity to be separated from procreation more effectively than ever before.