Sex in the Western World: The Development of Attitudes and Behaviour

Sex in the Western World: The Development of Attitudes and Behaviour traces the evolution of sexual practices and beliefs from the medieval period through the twentieth century. The book examines how Western societies have understood and regulated sexuality across different historical epochs. Edward Shorter analyzes primary sources including medical records, court documents, and personal accounts to reconstruct changing attitudes toward sex, marriage, and reproduction. The narrative moves through key periods including the Victorian era, the sexual revolution, and modern times, documenting shifts in both private behavior and public discourse. The research spans multiple countries and social classes, examining how factors like urbanization, industrialization, and medical advances shaped intimate relationships. Shorter pays particular attention to the role of social institutions - the church, the medical establishment, and the state - in controlling and defining sexual norms. This social history reveals how deeply cultural forces can influence the most personal aspects of human life, while raising questions about the relationship between individual desire and societal control. The work contributes to ongoing debates about sexual liberation, repression, and the construction of modern sexual identity.

Scholarly readers note the comprehensive research across Western European cultures and Shorter's use of primary sources to explore changes in sexual attitudes over centuries. Readers appreciate: - Clear chronological organization from 1500s to modern era - Documentation of shifts in courtship, marriage, and family life - Inclusion of both rural and urban perspectives Common criticisms: - Heavy focus on French historical records over other regions - Limited examination of same-sex relationships - Some dated 1970s sociological frameworks Reviews and Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available Academia.edu: Referenced in 412 papers Multiple reviewers mention the book's thorough examination of illegitimacy rates and premarital pregnancy as strengths. Several academic readers critique its minimal coverage of non-heterosexual relationships and experiences. One history professor notes: "Strong on demographics but lacks nuance in cultural analysis." The work remains frequently cited in academic papers on sexuality history despite its publication age.

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🔹 Edward Shorter is a social historian who pioneered the study of the history of the family and sexuality, challenging many conventional beliefs about "traditional" family life and intimacy in pre-modern Europe. 🔹 The book reveals that contrary to popular belief, pre-industrial European peasants were relatively uninhibited about sex, and Victorian prudishness was actually a middle-class phenomenon that emerged later. 🔹 Research presented in the book shows that illegitimate births in many European villages reached their peak in the late 18th century, not during the sexual revolution of the 1960s. 🔹 The work documents how the medical profession's growing influence in the 19th century led to new theories about sexuality and relationships, many of which were used to control women's behavior. 🔹 Shorter's analysis demonstrates that the modern concept of romantic love and sexual fulfillment within marriage was largely absent in Western society before the 18th century, with marriages primarily being economic arrangements.