4 ms·

That's just good old day syndrome. I've had some very interesting talks with older folks about this very subject. They all agree that the prevalence of sex in t

by enjo 17y ago

That's just good old day syndrome. I've had some very interesting talks with older folks about this very subject. They all agree that the prevalence of sex in the culture is certainly a bit more front and center today. However, men have always been men and women have always been women. Teen birth rates where at their highest in 40's, 50's and 60's after all. Contraception certainly has played a role in reducing that, but it does demonstrate that conservative America has always been a myth propagated by a certain sect of older conservatives.

powauth 17y ago
Interesting. My talks (at least with older people who went to college) have given me quite a different perspective - where people would typically marry very young (often out of college), and no one would even think of having sex without at least being engaged. I don't doubt the truth of this story (though there is certainly hyperbole); rather I find it hard to believe that 'sleep with' in this context actually means 'sex'. The main flags are A) Feynman is discussing with other people about it (afaik not acceptable socially then) and B) a sexual one-night stand would be even less so. Finally I wager that the teen birth rate drop is solely due to an increase in education and contraption (and even legalized abortions). Obviously, there were some teenagers having sex in the 1940s (with a much higher liklihood of becoming pregnant right now), but, due to the risks and less acceptance than now, the rate was lower.
- branden 17y ago
  Roger Ebert provides a relevant peek under history's skirt. http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01/making_out_is_its_own_reward.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01/making_out_is_its_ow... Keep in mind that these were students living under strict authority. The adults in Feynman's story and elsewhere were free to do as they pleased.
bps4484 17y ago
anecdotally, I once asked my grandfather if people didn't really have sex that much back then, or if they just didn't talk about it, and he was quick to say that people just didn't talk about it, but maybe he was biased and just getting laid a lot :)
kingkongreveng_ 17y ago
> Teen birth rates where at their highest in 40's, 50's and 60's after all They were married 19 year olds, dummy.

by enjo 17y ago

powauth 17y ago

Interesting. My talks (at least with older people who went to college) have given me quite a different perspective - where people would typically marry very young (often out of college), and no one would even think of having sex without at least being engaged. I don't doubt the truth of this story (though there is certainly hyperbole); rather I find it hard to believe that 'sleep with' in this context actually means 'sex'. The main flags are A) Feynman is discussing with other people about it (afaik not acceptable socially then) and B) a sexual one-night stand would be even less so. Finally I wager that the teen birth rate drop is solely due to an increase in education and contraption (and even legalized abortions). Obviously, there were some teenagers having sex in the 1940s (with a much higher liklihood of becoming pregnant right now), but, due to the risks and less acceptance than now, the rate was lower.

branden 17y ago
Roger Ebert provides a relevant peek under history's skirt. http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01/making_out_is_its_own_reward.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01/making_out_is_its_ow... Keep in mind that these were students living under strict authority. The adults in Feynman's story and elsewhere were free to do as they pleased.

bps4484 17y ago

anecdotally, I once asked my grandfather if people didn't really have sex that much back then, or if they just didn't talk about it, and he was quick to say that people just didn't talk about it, but maybe he was biased and just getting laid a lot :)

kingkongreveng_ 17y ago

> Teen birth rates where at their highest in 40's, 50's and 60's after all They were married 19 year olds, dummy.