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Why Have Americans Changed Their Minds about Premarital Sex?

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  • George R. G. Clarke

Abstract

Since the turn of the new millennium, Americans¡¯ views about sex have become more socially liberal. The percent of Americans who disapproved of pre-marital sex fell by 14 percentage points between 2002 and 2014 and the percent who disapproved of sex between same-sex couples fell by 18 percentage points. In this paper, we ask whether demographic changes can explain these trends. We find generational shifts between people born in the early and later part of the 20th century can explain about 30 percent of the change. Other demographic changes, including decreased religiosity and marital rates, explain an extra 10 to 15 percent of the change. Because these demographic changes will probably continue, Americans¡¯ views on these issues will probably become even more liberal in future decades.

Suggested Citation

  • George R. G. Clarke, 2018. "Why Have Americans Changed Their Minds about Premarital Sex?," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(3), pages 120-132, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ijefaa:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:120-132
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steven Ruggles, 2015. "Patriarchy, Power, and Pay: The Transformation of American Families, 1800–2015," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(6), pages 1797-1823, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dorn, David & Levell, Peter, 2021. "Trade and Inequality in Europe and the US," CEPR Discussion Papers 16780, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    marriage; fertility; religious affiliation; demographic change; United States;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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