Premarital Sex and Community
Controls

Until 1750 Most of central and western
Europe did not have premarital sex.
◦ Small amount of bastard children in Europe
 In France less than one percent of children were
illegitimate.
◦ Premarital sex was popular in some parts of
Europe in 18th century.
 French village Auffay in Normandy.
 Many already were “going steady” (sealed the deal)
Premarital Sex and Community Controls Cont.
The combination of…

1.
2.
1.
2.
a very low rate of illegitimate birth and…
large number of pregnant brides reflected…
Community Controls is a villages common patterns
of cooperation and common action. (Tradition)
An unwed mother with an illegitimate child was
seen as a threat to…
1.
2.
3.
Economic
Social
Moral stability
Traditional French Peasant
Household.

Individuality was crushed by…
◦ Family institutions
◦ Social pressures by the village community.
Anything that may endanger a couples
household may endanger the community.
 If endangered the community would
sometimes react…

◦ Violently
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Birth Control
Community control
 Once a couple married
 Birth control

◦ Primitive and undependable
◦ Coitus interruptus
 Withdrawal by the male before ejaculation
◦ French were using contraception extensively
Birth Control Cont.
Many other means of contraception were
used by curtain sectors of the urban class.
 “Fast Set" of London

◦ Used “Sheath”

Prostitutes
◦ Many ways of contraception could be
obtained.
New Patterns of Marriage and
illegitimacy

Number of illegitimate births
◦ Europe experienced an illegitimate
explosion from 1750 to 1850
In Frankfurt, Germany from 1700 to 1850
 Bordeaux, France by 1840
 Small villages from 1750 to 1850
 Profound Sexual Transformation

New Patterns of Marriage and
illegitimacy cont.

Historians debate meaning of
transformation (two main ideas)
◦ Growth of Cottage industry
◦ Needs of a growing population
 This is where men started to have trouble with
commitment. 
◦ Thus became difficult for women to convert
pregnancies into marriage.