1. Introduction to Family Studies
Love & Sexuality
Introduction to Family Studies

2. Love and Sexuality
Love is all around us – even if we are not in a romantic relationships
We are constantly reminded that we “should” be in one
Think about the $$ and energy spent on Valentines Day alone

3. Love & Sexuality
How has the meaning of love and sexuality changed over time?
Development of the idea of sexual identities
Sexuality and love are socially constructed
Our economy & culture influence how we view love, sex, and intimate relationships
With changes economic and cultural change, we see changes in how we view love and sexuality

4. Love & Sexuality
How has the connection between love & marriage changed?
How has the connection between sex and marriage changed?
How has the relationship between childbearing and marriage changed?

5. Love & Sexuality The idea of sexual identity is socially constructed
Even though we think of sexual behavior and romantic love as very personal emotions …. BUT
They are influenced by social norms, the current culture of the time, and demographic changes.
The way we experience love is shaped by the context in which love occurs

6. Then
&
Now

7. Love & Sexuality Love/Romance is socially constructed
How are ideas about romantic love constructed?
The culture of Capitalism operates as a frame through which we see and interpret emotional experience
This cultural frame creates the norms and values we associate with love relationships and how we express romantic love

8. Love & Sexuality
Capitalist culture creates and reinforces specific symbols and rituals of romantic love
When you think romantic love what images come to mind?

9. Love & Sexuality

10. Love and Sexuality From popular songs and movies,
Love and romance are EVERYWHERE
How about popular music…
Think about how many songs revolve around love and sex
And of course – now we have the popularity of twerking

11. How things have changed

12. Just look how the idea of how to look for love has changed
On-line dating has become VERY popular for all ages
Even the very prestigious Pew Research center is studying on-line dating!

13. Love & Sexuality
Why does romantic love continue to have such a hold on us – despite major social changes like increasing divorce rates?
1) Illouz argues that love is a special place where we experience utopia – or perfection
In other words…love is sacred
2) Romantic love affirms the importance of the individual
Individual fulfillment more important than social and economic concerns
3) Love sells!

14. Love & Sexuality
What larger social and economic changes since the 1700s, 1800s have made a greater emphasis on romantic love possible?
Standard of living has increased
Greater emphasis on individualism
Women are less economically dependent
Emphasis on companionate marriage
(being friends with your partner)

15. Love & Sexuality
As women’s labor force participation rates increase, women postpone marriage to finish college, graduate school, or begin their careers
This leaves a longer period time between leaving home and getting married
This leads to postponing marriage

17. New Survey on American Sexuality
National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB)
Conducted by the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University
Study based on responses from 5,865 individuals, including about 800 under 18.
Partially funded by Trojan Condoms
Source: Reece, Herbenick, Schick, Sanders, Dodge, & Fortenberry (2010) Journal of Sexual Medicine, vol 7,

18. New Survey on American Sexuality
Findings:
Orgasm gap
85% of men say their female partner reached orgasm during their last sexual encounter
However only 60% of women said they had an orgasm
Condom Use
Teens using condoms, but older people “back on the market” less likely to use them
See chart from NY Times:

19. New Survey on American Sexuality
Findings:
Reasons why 50+ adults are not using condoms
Older singles have spent much of their time married and may think of HIV/AIDS as concern for younger people
They have not been targeted by public health messages
No parental figure urging them to use condoms/ or not to have sex
Older men may worry condoms cause erectile dysfunction
Source: New York Times, 10/10/10

20. Love & Sexuality Since the 1960’s we have seen increases in:
the likelihood of sex before marriage
the number of partners

21. Nonmarital Sexual Activity
Sex is now separated from marriage due to:
Innovations in birth control
Legalization of abortion
Attitude change - greater acceptance of sex before marriage
Kinsey Report first to show that many people were having sex outside of marriage

22. Pop Quiz on Sexuality

23. Nonmarital Sexual Activity
We still see evidence of sex differences in reported number of partners by sex

24. Number of sexual partners in past 12 months, for never-married, non cohabiting women and men, ages 15-44, 2002
Source: National Center for Health Statistics

25. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF: SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS
When people give an ideal response to a survey – that is socially acceptable - rather than the true response
Think about people reporting their ideal weight, because we live in a society that emphasizes being thin
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF: SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS

26. Love & Sexuality Childbearing has become decoupled from marriage
Decline in the economic gains to marriage
Changing attitudes now more acceptable to have a nonmarital birth
Technological innovations in birth control
Legalization of abortion – no more “having to get married”

27. Love & Sexuality Love and sexuality are socially constructed
Economic and cultural changes influence how we view love, sex, and intimate relationships
Our experience of what is romantic is partially influenced by the capitalist economic system of the U.S.