Sexual Lifestyle in the Twentieth Century

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Research Material and Theoretical Perspectives

   1. Research Material and Theoretical Perspectives

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 1-20

3. Sexuality in Early Age

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21

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   2. Childhood

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 23-36

   3. Sexuality in Youth

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 37-59

4. Sexual Lifestyles in Different Types of Relationships

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 61-61

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   2. Faithful Monogamy — Eternal Love

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 63-82

   3. Consecutive Relations

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 83-100

   4. Searching

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 101-114

   5. Devitalised Union

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 115-124

   6. Parallel Relationships

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 125-149

5. Remembering Sexuality

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 151-151

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   2. Joy and Suffering

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 153-174

   3. The Importance of Sex

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 175-193

   4. Conclusion: Changing Sexual Practices and Scripts

      • Elina Haavio-Mannila, Osmo Kontula, Anna Rotkirch

      Pages 194-204

6. Back Matter

   Pages 205-224

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This study presents us with an insightful sociological exploration of sexual practice, within five different types of relationship and from varying perspectives of gender and age: lifelong love; serial loves; searching; devitalized relations, and parallel relations. Based on the accounts of almost two hundred adults in Finland, these real-life experiences reflect the way in which sexuality has evolved both within the lifetime of the individual, and over generations. Also examined is the impact of major historical events on love and sexual relationships - from war to economic crisis - and that of the 'spirit of the age': from the emancipatory zeal of the 1960s to the new-age holistic ideals in the 1980s.

• childhood
• crisis
• gender
• research
• sociology
• Union
• war
• youth
• sexual behaviour

ELINA HAAVIO-MANNILA is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Helsinki. Her publications in English include, as co-author, Unfinished Democracy: Women in Nordic Politics, and Sexual Pleasures: Changes in Sex Life in Finland.

OSMO KONTULA is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki.

ANNA ROTKIRCH is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki.

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