The Economics of Sex (marriage, women, love, family)
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The Economics of Sex video and resource guide- a interesting, intelligent and I am sure controversial viewpoints on sex in modern society that I saw in a Freakonomics blog.
Definitely contributing to the decline in marriages and the devaluing of sex...I guess I could see how it negatively impacts women who want that type of lifetime commitment, but it's working just fine for me.
This is based on the false premise that the invention of oral contraceptives revolutionized mating and sex, as if contraceptives hadn't been available before. What revolutionized mating and sex was a relaxation of mores brought about by the counterculture of the 60's. People used condoms before the pill was invented, and many continued to use condoms after it was invented. Many still do, especially now with so much concern about AIDS and STD's. As we've seen on this forum, some women prefer not to use hormonally-based contraceptives.
Oh well. Whatever the cause, sex became more easily obtainable. But what the authors don't mention is that one major reason marriage is happening later in life is that women have a lot more options in life, so they're choosing to postpone marriage. That revolution in career opportunities for women and women's resulting independence from men also came about sometime in the 70's. It's not all about the "economics of sex". That's actually a male-centric view of the situation. Now we know where the myths come from that keep getting posted on this forum.
This is based on the false premise that the invention of oral contraceptives revolutionized mating and sex, as if contraceptives hadn't been available before. What revolutionized mating and sex was a relaxation of mores brought about by the counterculture of the 60's. People used condoms before the pill was invented, and many continued to use condoms after it was invented. Many still do, especially now with so much concern about AIDS and STD's. As we've seen on this forum, some women prefer not to use hormonally-based contraceptives.
Oh well. Whatever the cause, sex became more easily obtainable. But what the authors don't mention is that one major reason marriage is happening later in life is that women have a lot more options in life, so they're choosing to postpone marriage. It's not all about the "economics of sex". That's actually a male-centric view of the situation.
But the reality is, oral contraceptives DID revolutionize mating and sex. Contraceptives allowed women to halt their reproductive abilities when they wanted, allowing sexual relationships to occur more on their timetable. I'd say based on the information regarding marriage rates, divorce, and infidelity once oral contraceptives were widely available, there was a heightened effect from the 60's counterculture, and the counterculture increased the demand for contraceptives. They both pushed and pulled at each other.
But the reality is, oral contraceptives DID revolutionize mating and sex. Contraceptives allowed women to halt their reproductive abilities when they wanted, allowing sexual relationships to occur more on their timetable. I'd say based on the information regarding marriage rates, divorce, and infidelity once oral contraceptives were widely available, there was a heightened effect from the 60's counterculture, and the counterculture increased the demand for contraceptives. They both pushed and pulled at each other.
I agree, I began to compose a response to Ruth's commentary but there was so much wrong with it, I didn't know where to start.
But the reality is, oral contraceptives DID revolutionize mating and sex. Contraceptives allowed women to halt their reproductive abilities when they wanted, allowing sexual relationships to occur more on their timetable. I'd say based on the information regarding marriage rates, divorce, and infidelity once oral contraceptives were widely available, there was a heightened effect from the 60's counterculture, and the counterculture increased the demand for contraceptives. They both pushed and pulled at each other.
I don't see how condom use (and IUD's) vs. oral contraceptives would be any different in that effect. Family planning was going on long before oral contraceptives were invented. My parents and their parents had small families, unlike my ancestors in the 1600's and 1700's, who had families of 10-12 kids. What revolutionized relations between the sexes and brought about "free love" was a radical change in culture, and a massive youth rebellion against the conservatism of post WWII life and suburban living.
I think the pill was adopted more readily and more en-masse in some countries than in others. I know people in Sweden who had unplanned pregnancies in the 1980's. That wouldn't have happened if the pill were widely used. But I've heard that in England, it was immediately and almost universally adopted as soon as it came out. I think it was slower to catch on in the US. But among those who used it, I think what you say is probably true. Maybe the counterculture did push demand for easier, no muss-no fuss contraceptive methods.
Last edited by Ruth4Truth; 02-20-2014 at 10:32 AM..
This video is an example of people with way too much time on their hands.
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