Scandinavians To Have More Sexual Freedom (Press, 14 November 1968)

On 14 November 1968, the "New York Times" News Service reported significant shifts in sexual attitudes and laws in Denmark and Sweden, two countries known for their liberal stances on such matters. In Denmark, the Government has introduced a bill to abolish existing censorship measures for adult motion pictures and plans to eliminate obscenity as a criminal offence. A Ministry of Justice official commented that regulating sexual issues is challenging due to their subjective nature relating to taste and morals, which are difficult to legislate. The Danish Government also aims to legalise the sale of pornographic images depicting sexual acts, following last year's legalisation of written pornography. Although the market for pornographic materials had declined since legalisation, sales of hardcore pornography had surged, with such materials readily available despite their nominal illegality. In Sweden, there is an expectation that a Parliamentary committee will soon recommend easing abortion laws, allowing women to decide within 12 weeks of conception whether to continue with a pregnancy. Additionally, proposals for loosening film censorship and abolishing unenforced prohibitions on pornography are anticipated in the parliamentary discussions. These developments further reinforce Scandinavia's reputation as a sexually permissive region, highlighted by statistics showing that 48 per cent of firstborn children in Sweden are born less than eight months after marriage, suggesting premarital conception is often merely a signal for weddings rather than a societal scandal. However, neighbouring countries like Norway and Finland exhibit more conservative attitudes and laws in contrast to Denmark and Sweden. Notably, Norway's Minister of Church and Education, Kjell Bondevik, expressed concerns over declining morals in society. In contrast, a Swedish Government Minister dismissed the significance of sexual matters, indicating that many young people are occupied with work and entertainment rather than sexual issues. Both Copenhagen and Stockholm visibly reflect their liberal attitudes towards sexuality, with numerous shops prominently displaying hardcore pornographic materials under signage reading "sex shop" or "porno." These shops reportedly attract a significant number of international tourists, particularly from the United States, Britain, and West Germany, who account for over half of sales. Most printed materials available are in Danish or Swedish, and it is anticipated that with the removal of censorship, sex films may initially become more explicit, though the real transformation might occur in offerings of horror and violent films, which many Scandinavians reportedly find more objectionable than sexual content. Despite the growing sexual permissiveness, homosexual activity persists under a cloud of societal stigma, remaining relatively discreet, with a few "gay bars" reported in Copenhagen and a more subdued atmosphere in Stockholm.

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