The sexual revolution of the 1960’s and early 1970’s was brought about by a combination of anti-establishment thinking and the availability of reliable contraceptives. The movement was founded predominantly by young people. It found its beginnings in the protests against the draft for the Vietnam War which called for peace and love. The resulting counter-culture (or hippie movement) challenged many long-held social norms. While the movement, as a whole may have fallen short of its goals, there’s no denying the long-range effect on American society.

The unrest of this time period brought sexual awareness to the forefront of American discussion and intertwined it in political thinking. Although sexual norms were slowly changing, such outspokenness would have been unthinkable in prior times. Sexual pleasure, particularly for women, was something thought of within the boundaries of a traditional, heterosexual marriage. While the introduction of contraceptives did not change people’s thinking overnight, it did help bring pre-existing underground behaviors into the light of day.  

It also, for the first time in history, gave women a choice in their reproductive cycle and thus in their sexual activity. The traditional American family thought of as a working husband, stay at home wife and two to four children was already in a challenged state. This version of family was born out of the relative comfort and economic security enjoyed in the post war country. It was dependent on both sexes buying into the accepted roles and the economy being able to support the family unit. 

Some of the changes initiated by the sexual revolution were not new to American culture. During the years of 1900 to 1940, women were entering the work force in greater numbers, marrying later, having fewer children and divorcing in greater numbers. These trends were reversed by the end of World War II and the depression. People were, in general, tired and ready for some comfort. The American economy allowed for single families to comfortably exist and for the myth of the traditional family to be born.

The young people who pulled the sexual revolution into the media made it something Americans could talk about openly and freely. It did change the relationships between men and women but it was not until the 1970’s that sex outside of marriage became widely accepted. The Women’s Right Movement was also a factor in the changing version of the accepted family unit. While the sexual revolution started the ball rolling towards change, other factors (most notably the economy and feminism) determined what shape the form would take.

The American family is still alive and well. It has taken on new forms with the classic fifty era model being in the minority. The population has shifted gears and changed to adjust to a changing economic environment, open education for both sexes and an increased social acceptability of divorce, single parent households and homosexuality.

The sexual revolution did not destroy the American family but it did force issues on sexuality out into the media. If there had not been an audience, such compelling changes would not have taken place.

American society still values secure and nurturing homes where children are raised to be productive citizens. The framework may have changed but the core is still strong.