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Marriage and courtships
In the 1700s, marriage was seen as a business deal between parents and not for love. By the 1800s, adults were able to choose who they wanted to marry. Source: https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/Foundation/journal/Holiday07/court.cfm
Photo: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/bridgerton -
Hookups become more common
With movie theaters, dancing and automobiles becoming more popular, men and women were able to mingle without courting under parental supervision. Source: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/02/ce-corner#:~:text=Hookups%20began%20to%20become%20more,explore%20their%20sexuality%20more%20freely
Photo: https://headlong.co.uk/ideas/movies-and-mass-culture/ -
World War Two
The start of World War Two meant men were going off to war, so long-term dating overshadowed the casual dating scene and having multiple partners. Source: https://scholars.org/brief/rise-hookup-sexual-culture-american-college-campuses
Photo: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/World-War-2-Timeline-1945/ -
Feminism and birth control
In the 1960s, feminism was popular and birth control was more widely available. Casual sex encounters were more frequent with a decline in the ideal of a traditional committed relationship. Source: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/02/ce-corner#:~:text=Hookups%20began%20to%20become%20more,explore%20their%20sexuality%20more%20freely
Photo: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fda-approves-the-pill -
First adult erotic film
"Blue Movie" was released in 1969 and is known as the first adult erotic movie with a wide release, ultimately changing norms about how sex is openly accepted in society. Source: https://savagethrills.com/artdesign/the-golden-age-of-porn/
Photo: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066850/ -
"Animal House"
The hit movie "Animal House" raised expectations for fun in college with liquor companies advertising towards a younger audience and that drinking is a main part of the college experience. This ideal led to more casual sex encounters with more opportunities for mingling. Source: https://scholars.org/brief/rise-hookup-sexual-culture-american-college-campuses
Photo: https://www.vintag.es/2021/09/vintage-alcohol-ads-1960s-1970s-1980s.html -
The AIDs epidemic
In the 1980s, gay men were participating in hookups and casual sex. The AIDs infection hindered hookup culture from being mainstream, yet it still proceeded. Source: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/02/ce-corner#:~:text=Hookups%20began%20to%20become%20more,explore%20their%20sexuality%20more%20freely
Photo: https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/cctp-802-spring2018/2018/05/04/the-art-of-the-aids-crisis-cautionary-oeuvres-from-the-1980s/ -
Legal drinking age raised to 21
Fraternities dominated social life on college campuses due to people being able to drink in a private setting. Hookup culture was reinforced due to the media portrayals of college social life and increased women's equality. Source: https://scholars.org/brief/rise-hookup-sexual-culture-american-college-campuses
Photo: https://coolkidsofhistory.tumblr.com/post/161789300058/day-in-the-life-of-a-1980s-fraternity -
Rise of internet dating
Meeting people online paved the way for potential hookups. This made hookups even more engrained in popular culture. In 1995, the first internet dating site, match.com, was launched. Source: https://www.stylight.com/Magazine/Lifestyle/Love-First-Swipe-Evolution-Online-Dating/
Photo: https://www.vogue.com/article/pop-culture-1995 -
Media depicts the attractiveness of hookup culture
Starting around 2009, television shows and movies such as "No Strings Attached" and "Jersey Shore" depict hookup culture as acceptable and fun. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613286/
Photo: https://www.amazon.com/Jersey-Shore-Season-1-Uncensored/dp/B003IB0FUS