Adam and Eve After the Pill

1. The Sexual Revolution's Fallout: A Disaster for Many

First, and contrary to conventional depiction, the sexual revolution has proved a disaster for many men and women; and second, its weight has fallen heaviest on the smallest and weakest shoulders in society—even as it has given extra strength to those already strongest and most predatory.

Uneven distribution of consequences. The sexual revolution, often portrayed as a universal boon, has disproportionately harmed the most vulnerable members of society. While some have benefited from increased freedom, many others, particularly women and children, have experienced negative consequences. This challenges the standard celebratory narrative.

Empirical evidence ignored. Despite mounting evidence of the revolution's negative effects, many academics and cultural authorities remain in denial. This denial mirrors the intellectual resistance to acknowledging the harms of communism during the Cold War. The author argues that this resistance is driven by a deep-seated desire to believe in the benefits of sexual liberation.

Need for honest assessment. The book aims to provide a more balanced and evidence-based assessment of the sexual revolution's impact. By examining the experiences of women, men, and children, it seeks to reveal the hidden costs and unintended consequences of this transformative social movement.

2. Intellectual Denial: The Will to Disbelieve

Such profound and systematic resistance to the empirical facts was dubbed by the stalwart anticommunist Jeane Kirkpatrick as the “will to disbelieve”, in an essay by that same name—a fine phrase that deserves resurrecting in the context of this book, for reasons that will be explained.

Echoes of the Cold War. The author draws a parallel between the intellectual denial of the sexual revolution's negative effects and the denial of communism's harms during the Cold War. In both cases, empirical evidence was ignored or dismissed by influential intellectuals. This comparison highlights the power of ideology to distort perceptions of reality.

Motivations for denial. The "will to disbelieve" stems from a desire to maintain a particular worldview, even in the face of contradictory evidence. In the case of the sexual revolution, this desire is fueled by a belief in individual freedom and a rejection of traditional moral constraints. This makes it difficult to have an honest conversation about the revolution's consequences.

Breaking through resistance. Overcoming this intellectual resistance requires a commitment to patiently presenting the facts, regardless of the opposition. It also requires recognizing that people are motivated by a desire to believe in the positive aspects of sexual liberation. The author suggests that appealing to shared values, such as compassion for the vulnerable, may be more effective than resorting to condemnation.

3. Women's Paradox: Freedom and Unhappiness

It is an insight to which the summer 2009 marriage war, like the 2011 controversy over Manning Up, stands as a large footnote.

The declining happiness of women. Despite unprecedented freedoms and opportunities, women's happiness has declined in recent decades. This "paradox of declining female happiness" suggests that something is amiss in the standard narrative of female liberation. The author argues that the burdens of the sexual revolution may be a contributing factor.

The burdens of choice. Women disproportionately bear the costs of the sexual revolution, including the emotional and practical challenges of navigating a world of hookup culture, career pressures, and uncertain relationships. The expectation to "have it all" can lead to stress, exhaustion, and a sense of unfulfillment. This is compounded by the pressure to accept pornography as an inconsequential and entertaining fact of life.

Reclaiming romance. The author suggests that women may need to reclaim a sense of romance and intimacy in their relationships. This requires challenging the prevailing culture of casual sex and embracing a more traditional view of commitment and fidelity. It also requires recognizing the destructive role of pornography in modern romance.

4. Men Adrift: Peter Pan and Pornography's Weight

This, it seems to me, is the real risk attached to pornography. Those who become addicted to this risk-free form of sex run a risk of another and greater kind. They risk the loss of love, in a world where only love brings happiness.

Prolonged adolescence. The sexual revolution has contributed to a state of prolonged adolescence in many men. Freed from the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood, some men remain in a state of "pre-adulthood," prioritizing leisure and avoiding commitment. This can lead to a sense of aimlessness and a lack of purpose.

The allure of pornography. The widespread availability of pornography has created a new and problematic phase of prolonged adolescence. Pornography offers a risk-free and readily accessible form of sexual gratification, but it can also lead to addiction, distorted perceptions of sex, and difficulty forming real relationships. This is compounded by the fact that many men are unaware of the potential harms of pornography.

Reclaiming responsibility. The author suggests that men need to reclaim a sense of responsibility and purpose in their lives. This requires embracing the challenges of adulthood, including marriage, fatherhood, and commitment. It also requires recognizing the destructive potential of pornography and seeking help if needed.

5. Children at Risk: The Erosion of Taboos

In an increasingly secular age, it is one of the few taboos about which people on both sides of the religious divide can agree. It remains a marker of right and wrong in a world where other markers have been erased.

The assault on innocence. One of the most disturbing legacies of the sexual revolution is the erosion of taboos against the sexual seduction or exploitation of the young. From the 1960s onward, there was a growing acceptance of "intergenerational sex" in some intellectual circles. This trend was particularly evident in the questioning of taboos against sex between men and boys.

The priest scandals as a turning point. The Catholic priest-boy sex scandals of the early 2000s served as a turning point in the public discourse on sex with minors. The widespread revulsion at these crimes helped to interrupt the trend of normalizing pedophilia. This makes the taboo against sex with youngsters the only one considered in the book in which some "rollback" of the sexual revolution has been demonstrated.

Vigilance and protection. The author emphasizes the need for continued vigilance in protecting children from sexual exploitation. This requires maintaining strong taboos against sex with minors and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. It also requires recognizing that globalization has made sex crimes against the young ever easier.

6. Toxic U: The Campus as a Microcosm

The feral rates of date rapes, hookups, and binge drinking now documented on many campuses, this chapter argues, are direct descendants of the sexual revolution—one whose central promise is that women can and should be sexually available in the name of liberation, which translated into the reality of the modern campus has empowered and largely exonerated predatory men as never before.

The dark side of collegiate life. The secular American campus has become "ground zero" of the sexual revolution. High rates of date rape, hookups, and binge drinking create a toxic social environment for many students. This environment is a direct consequence of the sexual revolution's promise of female sexual availability.

Empowering predators. The modern campus has empowered and largely exonerated predatory men as never before. The hookup culture, fueled by alcohol and a lack of clear boundaries, creates opportunities for sexual assault and exploitation. This challenges the notion that the sexual revolution has been a boon for women.

Seeking alternatives. The author suggests several ways to detoxify the American college campus. These include opting out of the toxic social scene, supporting countercultural movements, and bringing back early marriage. The goal is to create a safer and more supportive environment for young adults.

7. Food as the New Sex: A Transvaluation of Values

The all-you-can-eat buffet is now stigmatized; the sexual smorgasbord is not.

Shifting moral codes. The morality once attached to sexual behavior has been transferred onto matters of food. In a society no longer centered on Judeo-Christianity, food has become a new source of moral authority. This "transvaluation of values" reflects a deeper shift in social mores.

Mindful eating vs. mindless sex. As the consumption of food has become more discriminate and thoughtful, the consumption of sex has become more indiscriminate and unthinking. This reflects a broader trend of prioritizing physical health over moral considerations. The author argues that this trend is detrimental to society.

Reclaiming balance. The author suggests that society needs to reclaim a sense of balance between food and sex. This requires recognizing the moral implications of both behaviors and avoiding extremes. It also requires challenging the prevailing culture of mindless consumption.

8. Pornography as the New Tobacco: A Troubling Parallel

In these representative ways, and despite the obvious differences, pornography as an object of dispute in the public square can be argued to closely resemble tobacco—not tobacco as we know it today, but tobacco as the object of a hands-offsocial consensus of, say, fifty years ago.

Echoes of the past. Internet pornography today resembles tobacco in the 1960s: ubiquitous, defended by interested parties, and widely accepted as an inevitable social fact. This parallel suggests that pornography may be on the verge of a similar decline in social acceptability. The author argues that the harms of pornography are becoming increasingly evident.

Challenging the consensus. Just as the public health campaign against smoking shattered the "so-what?" consensus about tobacco, so might a similar campaign against pornography challenge the current social consensus. This requires recognizing the harms of pornography and promoting a more responsible view of sexuality. The author suggests that the key is to focus on the potential harms to others, particularly women and children.

A future of restigmatization. The author predicts that pornography will eventually be restigmatized, just as tobacco has been. This will require a shift in public attitudes and a greater awareness of the harms associated with pornography consumption. It also requires challenging the notion that pornography is simply a matter of individual freedom.

9. Humanae Vitae: A Prophetic Vindication

If that is so, then the racket by now must be prodigious. Not only have the document’s signature predictions been ratified in empirical force, but they have been ratified as few predictions ever are: in ways its authors could not possibly have foreseen, including by information that did not exist when the document was written, by scholars and others with no interest whatever in its teaching, and indeed even inadvertently, and in more ways than one, by many proud public adversaries of the Church.

The encyclical's predictions. Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical against artificial contraception, has been widely ridiculed and rejected. However, the author argues that its predictions about the consequences of widespread contraception have been remarkably vindicated. These predictions include a general lowering of moral standards, a rise in infidelity, a lessening of respect for women, and the coercive use of reproductive technologies by governments.

Secular confirmation. Secular social scientists have inadvertently confirmed Humanae Vitae's predictions. Their research has shown the negative effects of the sexual revolution on families, children, and society. This challenges the notion that the encyclical was based on outdated religious beliefs.

A call for humility. The author suggests that the vindication of Humanae Vitae should prompt a greater sense of humility and self-reflection. It also requires recognizing the wisdom of traditional moral teachings and the potential harms of unchecked sexual liberation. The author suggests that the Church's adversaries should give credit where credit is due.

Last updated: March 18, 2025