[Dilbert San Diego]

Back in the old days, before the social upheavals of the ‘60s, before the birth control pill, women being virgins at marriage was much more common.

Of course not everyone was a virgin bride. But more were than nowadays.

There were also “shotgun” weddings back in those days, so that couples who jumped the gun made it right by getting married.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I meant to say, jumped the gun and she was pregnant as a result, caused couples to marry quickly.

[thecodont]

Back in the old days, before the social upheavals of the ‘60s, before the birth control pill, women being virgins at marriage was much more common.

Of course not everyone was a virgin bride. But more were than nowadays.

There were also “shotgun” weddings back in those days, so that couples who jumped the gun made it right by getting married.

I wonder, what year was the "tipping point" for this? During what year did social expectations shift in the direction of having sex before marriage vs. waiting until marriage? I know the decline was gradual, but there was a definite shift at some point. I remember in the early '90s a girl tried to describe her live-in boyfriend as her "fiance." These days, if a woman says she has a boyfriend (not husband or even fiance), she has to explain/defend why they are living apart and not together.

These days, the people who decide to wait for marriage are seen as the rebels and freaks.

I wonder about those who (bitterly) joke that their sex life ended with marriage rather than began with marriage.

[Drew68]

Back in the old days, before the social upheavals of the ‘60s, before the birth control pill, women being virgins at marriage was much more common.

It was a lot easier to be a virgin on your wedding night when you were getting married two or three years after going through puberty.

Expecting people to remain virgins throughout their 20s and into their 30s is not realistic or natural.