Changing Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors from Baby Boomers to 2012 - Research Paper Example

Changing Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors from Baby Boomers to One of the most constant things which have been manifested with each generation is the changes in attitudes and behaviors. Throughout the years, these changes have included shifts in social, political, cultural, and sexual attitudes and behaviors. As the mindset for each generation have also undergone changes based on historical shifts and developments, the perceptions and attitudes for each generation have also manifested major differences. This paper shall describe the changing sexual attitudes and behaviors from baby boomers to millennials. Initially, it shall provide an overview of attitudes and behaviors from baby boomers to millennials; secondly, studies which show any changes socially, politically, and religiously through each generation would be presented; third, the significance of birth control pills shall also be discussed. Next, a discussion on who benefits (men or women) shall also be presented followed by considerations on the new innovations available in society. Finally, this paper shall discuss how things have changed in sexual behavior and attitudes from baby boomers to millennials. This paper is being undertaken in order to critically establish the evolution of sexual attitudes and behavior throughout the years; it is also being carried out in order to establish a clearer understanding of sexual behaviors for each varying generation. Trower (p. 3) discusses the major disparities and differences between the various generations. Firstly the baby boomers are those born from 1946 to 1964; secondly, the generation Xers are those born from 1965 to 1980, and finally, the Millennials are those born from 1981 to 2006. The major influences for each generation are vastly different. For the baby boomers, they have been significantly influenced by the suburban culture, television, Vietnam War, Watergate Scandal, Human Rights movements, protests, women’s movements, drugs, sex, and rock and roll (Trower, p. 11). They are also known to be idealists, to be very competitive, and are to be prone to questioning authority. The Generation X that followed has been sharply influenced by TV shows like Sesame Street and MTV, by Personal Computers, and by video games (Trower, p. 12). Their divorce rates have actually tripled and as children they have often been left alone to their own devices. They are eclectic, resourceful, self-reliant, highly adaptable to change, and often distrustful of formal institutions, including schools, churches, and government agencies (Trower, p. 12). The Millennials have experienced expansion in technology, natural disasters, violence, gangs, and diversity; however, this generation is also known for being coddled by their parents (Trower, p. 13). They are also known for their wider global concerns, for their realism, and for their vast cyber knowledge; however, many of them are also prone to an ADD diagnosis (attention deficit disorder) (Trower, p. 13). Carlson (p. 6) also discusses that baby boomers have been brought up in the post-World War II period, in much abundance and in a healthy economy. Many of them have seen the world evolve in its culture and political make-up (Carlson, p. 6). Most of them come from nuclear families; work has been considered a defining part of their life and their self worth. There is much tension between them and other generations, especially the newer ones because they do not share the same work ethic and dedication to work (Carlson, p. 6). Generation X on the other hand has been raised in the era where a penchant for ‘to-do lists’ have been seen; and they have also grown up in blended families. This generation was brought up in the shadow of a very influential generation and has been witness to the sacrifices that their parents have made for them (Carlson, p. 6). This generation has developed independent behaviors, including resilience, and adaptability at an even stronger bend than the generation they followed. In response to the baby boomers that lived to work, this generation regards the world with much cynicism and distrust (Carlson, p. 6). For the millennials, they have been regarded as the next major generation, one of great power and number, and individuals who can transform any transition they are likely to enter. They are also a greatly empowered generation, one which supports every achievement made by any individual (Carlson, p. 6). They have been raised by nurturing and supportive parents, parents who encouraged them to make their own choices and to always question authority. They have also been reared in a high consumer economy and they believe that their employers should accommodate their expectations (Carlson, pp. 6-7). This generation has been raised in the computer and internet age and they constantly view the world as a networked whole, one full of problems they can potentially solve (Carlson, p. 7). They are globally connected and highly interactive with each other through cellphones, text messaging, social networking, blogs, and similar options. Their constant connectivity to the each other and to the rest of the world makes them question the rigid 9-5 work days and 5 day work weeks (Carlson, p. 7). In a major way, they are very much opposite in attitudes and behavior with their baby boomer counterparts. There are various studies which seek to explain the social, political, and religious changes for each generation. Columbia (p. 1) discusses that although baby boomers grew up at a time of economic prosperity in the post-WWII period, they also experienced the turbulent era of the 1960s during their vulnerable years. As a result, they became very optimistic and idealistic, wanting to shift away from the turbulence they experienced during the 1960s. They saw a need to rise behind such turbulence and to be a major player in the economic prosperity being enjoyed in America; and so many of them became socially and economically driven to build strong careers (Columbia, p. 1). The Generation Xers, on the other hand, observed the hardships of their parents during company downsizing and restructuring during the 1970s and 1980s and they were likely raised in households where both their parents were working (Columbia, p. 2). They experienced work-centered parenting and they were able to understand the importance of work and home life balance, as well as greater autonomy in work while still being able to enjoy health and engaging environments. They have an improved and functional technical knowledge and they are often eager to learn more about their work and about the world in general (Columbia, p. 2). For the Millennials, have been born in the electronic and digital age where technological advancements are a regular occurrence they can easily experience. These technologies are within their easy grasp from a very young age and this makes them highly technical individuals in a highly interconnected world (Columbia, p. 2). They have been raised in an era where electronic developments are introduced almost every year, and they are forced to adapt to these changes at increasingly faster pace. This sets them apart from the baby boomers and the Gen Xers who often find the adaptability process more difficult to apply (Columbia, p. 2). Reeves and Oh (p. 301) also discuss the social, political, and religious changes which these generations have experienced over the years. The baby boomers were influenced by Martin Luther King and his fight for equal rights for African Americans; they were also influenced by the strong ideals of John F. Kennedy (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). They were in the era where rock and roll was enjoying much exposure through the Beatles and movements like Woodstock. The widespread use of the television also have them a larger concept of the world, pressing them on towards goals for changes in the world in general (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). For the generation Xers, their political and social ideals were influenced by major movers like Bill Clinton, Al Bundy, Madonna, Dennis Rodman, and even MTV characters like Beavis and Butthead; these were all seen during their formative years which then helped open them up into a highly liberal, eccentric, and eclectic world (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). Politically, they were in the midst of the Cold War which however did not allow them much insight into the conflict. Nevertheless, this generation became more aware of the political tension the country was having with Communism and with the Soviet Union. They are wary of the world and view it with much skepticism however are more likely to trust individuals, not institutions; in fact, many of them do not even trust the marriage institution, including their employers (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). The Millennials on the other hand have been influenced by years of electronic and digital technology. They have been born at a time of political extremes, with the conservative regime of Reagan and Bush, and later the liberal leadership of Clinton. They were born as the Cold War was ending and the world was transitioning into more peaceful conditions (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). They were in the midst of political and social extremes, including personalities like Prince William, Marilyn Manson, Venus and Serena Williams, and Britney Spears (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). This generation was also impacted by the Columbine disasters, as well as the Space Shuttle disaster, including the Oklahoma City bombing, and the 9/11 terrorist bombings (Reeves and Oh, p. 301). Through these disasters, they have developed harsh and realist perspectives, and through the myriad technological advancements they have been exposed to, they seem to have gained more confidence in their actions as compared to the other two earlier generations. Jamieson (p. 5) discuss that the Generation Xers is the first generation which went through family upheavals which was initially seen in the 1960s; they were also one of the first to go through a period of individualism in the 1980s and on to the 1990s. As a result, they manifested more ambitious and confident attitudes as compared to their parents (Jamieson, p. 5). This perception however does not represent the differences between children who have and have not experienced divorcing parent and the complexity of gender differences. The differences would have been more significant if not for the increased incidents of divorce which seem to impact on the significant benefits of being raised by better educated parents in small families (Jamieson, p. 5). The impact of divorce seems to have been focused on children’s education as well as their work goals. The familial differences in each generation were able to bear a strong impact on attitudes and behaviors of children in each generation, mostly on shifting the attitudes of children into more individualistic goals and future plans. Gaylor (p. 1) discusses how the family setting for the various generations is also different with baby boomers being in a more dispersed set-up, with the generation Xers being latch-key children, and the millennials being more comfortable with a loose family set-up. Baby boomer mothers are working mothers, single mothers abound among Gen Xers, and single parents are common among millennials (Gaylor, p. 1). Baby boomers are also usually divorced or have remarried, Gen Xers are often single parents or in blended families, and marital status is undetermined for millennials (Gaylor, p. 1). Education is viewed by baby boomers as their right, for Gen Xers it is a means to a successful future career, and for millennials, it is a necessary but very expensive venture (Gaylor, p. 1). Major influences among the baby boomers are their family and their education while the Gen Xers turn to the media for influential elements; the millennials on the other hand consider their friends, media, sports stars, and even TV shows as major influences in their lives (Gaylor, p. 2). The teenage experience for the baby boomers includes the civil rights movement as well as the sexual revolution with introduction of the pill, and high inflation rates; among Generation Xers, their teenage years included an information explosion, AIDS, environmental issues, and billions of national debts; and for the millennials, their teenage experience has been on an even more overwhelming level of information, cynicism, and downsizing (Gaylor, p. 2). As these individuals entered their late teen years, they were also exposed to other profound elements; in effect, the Gen Xers experienced a time of confusion, and apathy, but for the millennials, they were optimistic and confident about their lives (Gaylor, p. 2). In terms of entertainment, the baby boomers enjoyed television, and as few as three channels; the Gen Xers experienced a boost in entertainment with TV having about 30 channels of more, with the Nintendo games, and the VCRs; and the millennials experienced the whole range of entertainment through television, the internet, DVDs, and Playstations for their video games (Gaylor, p. 2). In relation to the war, the baby boomers who saw the devastation and the difficulties in recovering from the war were firm in their objection to the Vietnam War and the Cold War. The Gen Xers however were exposed to the world of international news coverage in the form of CNN, BBC, as well as international reports from major networks. As a result, this generation was able to watch the Gulf War unfold; they were able to watch news coverage of the Iran Hostage crisis as well as of Desert Storm (Gaylor, p. 2). For the millennials, they were exposed to an even more alarming form or war and conflict in the midst of various terrorist attacks from international and domestic fronts. They were also witness to the seemingly endless Iraqi and Kosovo wars; more alarmingly, this generation was also witness to domestic civil disturbances, and several incidents of shootings in schools and classrooms (Gaylor, p. 2). Women were viewed also differently with each generation, with women’s liberation and the feminist movement making a strong showing for the baby boomers. This quest for independence and equal rights were pushed further among the Gen Xers; and finally for the millennials, there was a reverse discrimination and a penchant towards the androgynous identity for women (Gaylor, p. 2). The morals across the generations also underwent several shifts in attitudes, with baby boomers being more sensuous, the Gen Xers being more cautious in their values, and the millennials being more tolerant of differences in values (Gaylor, p. 2). Sex was regarded by the baby boomers as ‘sex in the back seat;’ moreover, there was greater sexual freedom felt by this generation, especially with the introduction of the birth control pill. For the Gen Xers, sex was in a way equivalent to ‘sex on the internet,’ and for the millennials, sex was viewed in terms of protected sex and something they can engage in freely; love for them, can wait (Gaylor, p. 4). In terms of religious causes and qualities, baby boomers had a greater commitment to relationships; they were supportive of other people and they acknowledged that they wanted experiences with faith (Gaylor, p. 5). For the Generation Xers, their commitments were to their family, to local causes, and they did not believe in the importance of being in any particular religion or denomination; they also sought faith which fulfills their needs, most especially a faith which had less structure (Gaylor, p. 5). For the millennials on the other hand, they are actually more spiritually hungry and are even literate in the Bible teachings and verses; they perceive all ideas as equals and are highly tolerant of other forms of religions, faith, and ideas (Gaylor, p. 5). The above qualities distinguish between the varying social, political, and religious qualities among the three main generations involved in this discussion. They indicate how these generations have been shaped by their experiences and by the events which they have been exposed to during their formative, adolescent, and young adult years. As changes in history were seen, corresponding changes in the ideals, attitudes, and behaviors of these groups of individuals were seen. The baby boomers were the generation exposed and first introduced to the birth control pill. After the end of the Second World War, population growth manifested with high birth rates. The biggest population in the history of mankind, about 70 million was born (Bradshaw, p. 3). There were also fears of overpopulation which were eased with the introduction of the birth control pill. Along with the era of feminism and women’s liberation, the use of the birth control pill became widespread. Women now took a greater initiative in controlling their lives and what they could do with their bodies (Bradshaw, p. 3). In fact, many of them often engaged in promiscuous sex because they felt that they now had greater sexual freedom because of the birth control pill. Feminists celebrated the introduction of the birth control pill; and men who did not like using condoms also welcomed the era of the birth control pills. Just as women saw a chance to be sexually free, men too felt that they had the same freedom, without fearing that they would make someone pregnant (Viklund). Mostly however, it allowed women to control their pregnancies, to control the number of children they could have, and to dictate when they could have their children. Making such choices also allowed them opportunities to enjoy their careers and postpone raising families (Viklund). Birth control pills implied power, personal responsibility, and authority over one’s body. In effect, it was and still is a symbol of personal empowerment; for some individuals, it was akin to getting a driver’s license or buying one’s own car (Politics Daily). For the young adults and those in their late teens, birth control pills meant freedom and responsibility – for women, it meant the freedom to explore and enjoy their sexuality, and the responsibility to diligently take it as well as to engage in safe sex activities (Politics Daily). For them, it also meant the chance to live as a free woman not being forced into motherhood because of biology or sexuality. In other words, birth control pills also meant reproductive rights (Politics Daily). The use of birth control pills effectively changed the course of women’s history. When it was introduced in the 1960s, about 40% of married women immediately opted for it; in the 1970s, about 73% of young single and married women started using it (Politics Daily). The use of the pill gave college-educated women the chance to pursue advanced degrees in their choice professions. Many women finishing college often ended up getting pregnant and were prompted to stop their courses in order to care for their children. “The pill liberated her from this mental ball and chain and she scurried off to graduate school” (Politics Daily). As a result, from 1970 to 2000, the number of female doctors tripled, and the number of female judges and lawyers increased by 600 percent (Politics Daily). Pills also gave women the chance to delay marriage. The possibility of women getting divorced was also decreased with birth control pills. Theorists believe that since women could opt to marry at a later age, they could take more time choosing their partners. Therefore, the possibility of them making quality marriages was higher and the possibility of them dealing more maturely with marriage and all its responsibilities was also higher (Politics Daily). The Woodstock generation also embraced the pill because of the sexual liberation it gave them. However, this generation was also concerned about the risks associated with birth control pills – including a plethora of health hazards ranging from cancer, heart disease, to weight gain. To some users, these warnings dominated their mind and turned them off the use of birth control pills. Nevertheless, it was still an option open to them. And this option, more than anything was their primary consideration. In general, both men and women were able to benefit from the generational changes and transitions. However, for the most part, women were the ones who benefitted the most from these changes, most especially from the changes seen during the baby boom years. As was already discussed above, the birth control pill introduced during the 1960s allowed women free reign over their bodies, their careers, and their family plans. Women baby boomers were able to experience a better social and economic climate as compared to other women of previous generations (Galarneau, p. 1). These women were able to stay in school longer, marry later, and have fewer children. They also entered the labor force in droves and the baby boomers in the latter half of the generation were able to enjoy significant economic and employment benefits. These women in the second wave of the baby boom years however also faced stiff competition from their peers and from immigrants (Galarneau, p. 1). As has already been emphasized in this text, the trends in marriage and family life also presented more favorable options for women. They could postpone marriage and motherhood until such time when they could occupy more favorable positions in their life and in their careers (Galarneau, p. 2). They also had more opportunities for formal education and some of them eventually had the chance to equal the salaries of their male counterparts, earning post-graduate degrees and experience to eventually be eligible for managerial positions. They also entered professions which were traditionally held by men, and the range of jobs available to them also expanded (Galarneau, p. 3). The expansion led to entry into the fields of engineering, math, and the arts. With improved career and employment options, the earnings of these women also increased. In effect, they were able to contribute more to the labor market and to their families (Galarneau, p. 6). In general men and women were able to experience benefits from the baby boom era. The baby boomers were able to experience living in the suburbs (History.com). Sales of suburban lands increased during the baby boomer years and developers like William Levitt in New York and New Jersey became known for their mass buying of lands and for developing these lands for baby boomers. The returning soldiers used their GI bills in order to avail of low-cost mortgages and it was then easier for them to buy lands in the suburbs than rent apartments in the city (History.com). The suburbs were ideal for families starting their homes and this allowed many men, especially those returning from war to enjoy quiet and relatively idyllic lives. Men and women also engaged in the consumer economy. They found new economic freedom in credit cards and charge accounts in order to avail of luxury items like television, new cars, and high fidelity systems (History.com). However, manufacturers were also engaged in the shoppers, persuading children to participate in various consumer crazes, including merchandise items from the Mickey Mouse Club, rock and roll records, Barbie Dolls, Frisbees, and hula hoops (History.com). Within this economy, most men and women were able to enjoy more economic choices and to have a healthy exchange with the economic changes and transitions in their generation For the Generation Xers, both men and women generally benefitted from the changes and developments during their generation. The feminist movement was able to lay down its groundwork during the previous generation of baby boomers, and women Gen Xers were able to further enjoy better employment, career, social, political, as well as family options. The emphasis which this generation placed on education was able to benefit men and women who were able to gain greater competitive advantages and diverse career options (NAS, p. 3). More adults were also able to enter specialized fields, including medicine, law, and engineering. The talent and skill pool of the US expanded at this point and this allowed for more options in recruiting, retaining, as well as in learning and development. Men and women of varying ethnicities also benefitted during the era of the Generation Xers. Minority African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians were able to enter the workforce and the educational field (NAS, p. 3). The fact that intermarriages were soon seen within this generation also broke through some of the racially discriminatory barriers to development. Men and women, regardless of ethnicity were highly educated in this generation and their demands for higher employment status were based on legitimate claims (NAS, p. 3). Internet usage within this generation also became rampant and it provided another media for these individuals to expand and explore their social, political, employment, educational, and cultural options. Men and women Generation Xers learned to be technically savvy because of the entry of the digital and electronic era (NAS, p. 4). This generation experienced the transition from the mechanical gadgets into the electronic and digital tools. They were able to experience how to type in typewriters, and later how to type in computers; how to turn the dials on television sets, and also how to use remote controls. In so many ways, the Generation Xers straddle two very different generations. For a while, men and women of this genre have been identified as slackers. However, they are actually a group of highly educated and diverse individuals with values which are very much different from the massive baby boomers (NAS, p. 5). These men and women have benefitted from the major developments in technology, developments which are often accessible to all, regardless of ethnicity. As a result, these Generation Xers have also enabled the varying prioritizations in their life, including their families (NAS, p. 5). Women Gen Xers have benefitted well from the changes. They are “testing and defeating the mommy track stigma; defined as a career path that allows a mother flexible reduced work hours but tends to slow or block advancement” (NAS, p. 5). Women are also taking time to have children and then get back to work while seeking flexible schedules and work from possibilities. The changes for the millennials have brought about various benefits also for both their men and women. A glimpse of these benefits has already been seen among the Generation Xers which have experienced and imbibed significant technological developments and skills. Due to the changes in the millennials’ generation, the men and women have also benefitted from an ethnically and racially diverse set-up (Pew Research Center, p. 1). This generation saw less military service and has become the most educated generation in American history. The current economic recession however has delayed and made their entry into the workplace very much difficult, however, they are more technically and electronically equipped than their older counterparts (Pew Research Center, p. 1). These men and women have benefitted from the technologies which make it possible for them to always be connected—to the social media, to the news, to politics, and to everything else happening within and outside their world. These changes have also made it possible for them to manage multi-tasking. The technologies which are easily within their grasp made it possible for them to manage multiple work, social, and family concerns. They can also be counted on by their employers to always be available or within easy reach, no matter what time of day or day of the week (Pew Research Center, p. 2). They sleep with cell phones within easy reach, and are ready to send text messages, make calls, send emails, read the news, play video games, and even make purchases online anytime. These men and women have managed to stay more efficient in their work and personal lives due to the various technologies at their disposal. Just as the birth control pills brought about a significant change in the lives of women, new innovations like men’s birth control is also poised to make these same changes in the lives of men. The availability of male hormonal contraceptives gives men their own choice as to birth control (Schieszer). Some men however have expressed their wariness of this pill because the idea of medicating themselves is not a very comfortable option. Nevertheless, safe and effective options for male birth control are now within reach and are expected to be commercially available in the soonest possible time (Schieszer). Most men are opining that it is now also their time to experience a safe and effective contraceptive, one which gives them more or less the same chance as women to control their bodies. Some of them have even gone to the extent of mentioning that these male contraceptives would foil any attempts at pregnancy by nefarious women (Schieszer). The choice for its use will soon be made available to men, and whether or not they would take such choice is very much based on their personal choices. Other innovations like Viagra have also opened more or less similar improved options for men. This innovation has made it possible for men, even beyond the age of their sexual prime to engage in sexual intercourse and to bear children. For men going through erectile dysfunction issues, Viagra gives them the chance to overcome their unfavorable condition and to regain their masculinity (Stiritz and Appleton, p. 364). For men having sexual issues, Viagra is considered part of their sexual therapy, and gives them the chance to defy their age as far as sexual activities are concerned. For older men, sexual activity can often be reduced and such limitations often curtail their feelings of esteem. Viagra provides a healthy and welcome option for them, one which is very much liberating and sexually freeing. Most of the changes in sexual attitudes and behaviors from baby boomers to millennials have already been discussed above. However details of these changes would be discussed below. The sexual revolution was seen during the 1960s, during the time of the baby boomers. Various elements and events unfolded during the 1960s and this created a culture which basically changed the socio-political and the sexual environment of the United States (Barnes, p. 1). One of these events can be summarized as the sexual revolution which was manifested in various forms, including the hippie movement, multiple sexual partners, premarital sex, and teenage pregnancies (Barnes, p. 1). These incidents and acts also signaled the beginnings of greater liberalism. Ellison and Hoffer (p. 3) discuss that the sexual revolution in the 1960s signified major changes in the accepted standards of sexual behavior which included sexual thought and codes of sexual behavior. The impact and the growth of this revolution were facilitated by the widespread accessibility of contraception and by the financial independence which women were able to gain during and after the Second World War (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 3). The baby boomers enjoyed individual equality and biological independence through the birth of the pill, the legalization of abortion, the easy access to erotic paraphernalia, and the greater openness on the discussions about sex (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 3). These elements all made the sexual revolution a full blown phenomenon, one which had a significant effect on men and women baby boomers. The sexual revolution in the 1960s also led to varied sexual attitudes and behaviors for this generation. Health and well-being was important for this generation and their expectations imply that they would not settle for being quiet and invisible as was the penchant of the generation which they followed. In a report by Starr-Weiner, he was able to establish that baby boomers are highly interested in sex and that sex is important to their physical and mental wellness. As they have grown older, most of them also believe that sex is also as good now as when they were younger (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 6). These baby boomers also believe that sex in their older years is better in their later years. They also believe that orgasm is a significant part of sex; and that masturbation is very much acceptable, as much as co-habiting without marriage (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 7). Various sexual practices in order to achieve pleasure were also accepted during this revolution and most of the baby boomers believed that oral sex is a very exciting part of sex (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 8). Most of them even enjoy nudity with their sexual partners and the ideal lover for most of these baby boomers were those within their age range. These baby boomers also believe that they would remain sexual even as they would grow older and in the current age of Viagra and other sexual enhances, these baby boomers that are now in their 60s have made this belief possible (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 11). These baby boomers however do not simply engage in intercourse for the sake of it. They consider feeling close to their partner before sex as an important consideration before intercourse; and they value emotional closeness after intercourse (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 12). They also value the feeling of being loved. They are not however above sexual explorations during intercourse, including manual stimulation of genitals, and reaching one or more orgasms during intercourse (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 13). In an interview with baby boomers, data reveals that over 2/3 of them consider sex an important part of their lives. Their age range for their first masturbated to an orgasm was from 5 to 62 years; for their first sexual intercourse – at 15 to 30 years of age; and some of the women had up to 180 partners, with an average of 13.2 sexual partners (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 14). These baby boomers view sexual pleasure in the form of vibrators and other sexual aids and 57% of them have used vibrators and similar aids to reach sexual satisfaction (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 14). Most of them found these sexual aids to be very helpful in their overall sexuality and sexual experience. Some however, found these devices to be comfortable. About 86% of the respondents in one of the reports tried anal sex, and only half of them enjoyed it. There has been a general increase of sexually transmissible infections with the different generations, however, it has become more apparent among the older population (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 14). About one in five Americans has genital herpes and most of them are unaware that they have the disease. A 2005 survey also revealed that 15% of newly diagnosed HIV cases were in the above 50 age range, and 35% of the deaths within this age range were attributed to AIDS (Ellison and Hoffer, p. 15). These figures indicate significant issues which have also emerged in the midst of the sexual revolution. As the changes and transitions occurred throughout the various generations, the sexual revolution reached a plateau with more discerning applications of the options made available during the baby boomer years. The sexual activity for the millennials, especially in terms of the rates in pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates generally followed a downward trend. From the 1980s to the 200s, the rates of pregnancy, births, and abortion gradually decreased, until steeper rates of decrease were reached by this population (Adelphi University, p. 5). This generation seems to have learned their lessons from their parents – “never marry anyone someone who makes less money than you do” (Carmine, p. 1). As these millennials have experienced their parents’ divorce, their attitudes about marriage has become more reasonable, and their attitudes about sex have veered away from what they viewed as their perverted parents. These millennials also see marriage as an institution – a contract which can be good for some and may not be for others. Due to these high regard and high expectations of ideal marriages, millennials have rejected marriage (Carmine, p. 1). Moreover, marriage is no longer a requirement for the receipt of government benefits. Domestic partnerships have now been recognized by the government and these millennials have wisely opted for these unions, gravitating away from the institution of marriage altogether. This generation is now starting to marry and start their families. Their values have been shaped by their parents who were supported, sheltered and pressured them to achieve and to comply with defined rules (Winograd and Hais). These millennials emerged in an era of sharp economic decline and major security threats; and all these elements put their confidence and optimism to the test. Millennials would likely be diverse in their ethnicity and religious practices, as well as their sexual orientation. This generation is currently the largest generation in American history and their diversity would likely be seen in how they would manage their families and their marriage. Very few of them disapprove of interracial marriages and only a few believe in marrying within their denomination (Winograd and Hais). Most of them agree with cohabitation and most believe in gay marriage being legalized. They would also likely marry at an older age and have children at an even later age. The difference between the millennials and the baby boomers is very stark, but in many ways are founded on their experiences during their formative and their adolescent years. Conclusion The above discussion manifests the major differences in sexual attitudes and behaviors from the baby boomers to the millennials. These differences have been shaped by their experiences and the experiences of the parents rearing them. The baby boomers have experienced the sexual revolution of the 1960s and in the process they have experienced sexual liberties which have made them more open to sexual experiences. For the millennials however, they manifest a more toned-down attitude about sex. They have also become diverse in their views on sex and on family. These views differ in some regard, but some similarities are also apparent in some aspects. Nevertheless, these differences are dictated by experiences and progressing views. 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