REPRESSION, REVOLUTION AND AMBIVALENCE - THE SEXUAL LIFE OF 3 GENERATIONS

Attitudes toward unconventional and casual forms of sexuality and towa rd extramarital relations as well as the appearance of parallel (extra ) sexual relationships are studied in three sexual generations. These are constructed on the basis of sexual norms and practices prevailing at the time of the sexual initiation of their members. The following s exual generations are distinguished: the sexual generations of repress ion born 1917-36, revolution born 1937-56, and ambivalence born 1957-7 3. The persistence of the sexual morals and behaviour patterns adopted in youth clearly emerges from large national surveys conducted in Fin land in 1971 and 1992. The generation of sexual repression appears as the most restrictive in its attitudes toward unconventional and casual forms of sexuality. It has least often engaged in parallel relationsh ips. The generation of sexual revolution is consistently most permissi ve in its sexual attitudes and behaviour. The youngest cohort, the sex ually ambivalent generation, is permissive toward unconventional and c asual forms of sexuality but family-oriented in attitudes toward marit al fidelity. Nevertheless, it is free in its own sexual behaviour. Com pared to young people twenty years ago, its members more often report parallel sexual relations. The findings are interpreted by referring t o current sociological discussions on individualization in (post)moder n society.