Post-Industrial Revolution Marriage Bed

[TK421]

The norm of married people sleeping in the same bed is something that began to take off in the Industrial Revolution era when large portions of people began migrating to the cities for work and ended up living in compact apartments. Beforehand it was more common for couples to get together, and perhaps sleep together, during sexual congress, but otherwise they’d sleep in their own bed. The current status quo is always a cultural norm I took for granted, but reflecting on it, it does seem pretty intense that a couple is expected to literally sleep in the same bed, in the same room, every single night. The need to do so has become extinct for a lot of people, since most us aren’t living in a box apartment, but this is a tradition that has lived on in American cultures and many other cultures.

What are you guys’ thoughts on this? I’m sure some people don’t mind it at all, but others’ probably don’t like it but just do it anyway because they assume that’s just the way it’s suppose to be.

 

[DaveBj]

When did ordinary people get wealthy enough for two spouses to each have his/her own bed? In many historical periods and current cultures, everyone slept/sleeps in the same room.

 

[Aggies08]

When did ordinary people get wealthy enough for two spouses to each have his/her own bed? In many historical periods and current cultures, everyone slept/sleeps in the same room.

including the kids!

 

[CrispSnowflake]

That’s very interesting. I didn’t know that before. But, if that’s the case, what does Jesus mean when he says to “keep the marriage bed pure” if they slept in separate beds?

 

[paperwight66]

That’s very interesting. I didn’t know that before. But, if that’s the case, what does Jesus mean when he says to “keep the marriage bed pure” if they slept in separate beds?

I’m not arguing about the general principle, but where does He say that?

 

[Psych77]

Actually, as I recall, it was the Apostle Paul who exhorted Christians to “keep pure the marriage bed.”

Can’t recall book, verse and chapter, though.

 

[paperwight66]

Actually, as I recall, it was the Apostle Paul who exhorted Christians to “keep pure the marriage bed.”

Can’t recall book, verse and chapter, though.

That’s what I thought, St. Paul.

 

[1ke]

That’s very interesting. I didn’t know that before. But, if that’s the case, what does Jesus mean when he says to “keep the marriage bed pure” if they slept in separate beds?

It’s an idiom. Not an actual specific bed.

 

[1ke]

The norm of married people sleeping in the same bed is something that began to take off in the Industrial Revolution

This was the norm of the **upper **classes. This was not the norm for everyone else.

And, the upper classes did not migrate to tiny apartments.

I think you are asserting a premise as fact that you should provide some evidence for. I see no evidence for it at all.

One can see archeological evidence that contradicts this vis-à-vis past centuries as well as anthropological evidence to the contrary in current cultures.

but otherwise they’d sleep in their own bed.

You are assuming “most people” had beds at all, let alone their “own”.

What are you guys’ thoughts on this?

Do whatever works for you.

 

[fpt]

The conjugal bed is an invention of the catholic Church. When I say an invention, I want to mean a explanation of the natural law of marriage that is, only, recognised by the catholic church. For saying the things very clearly, **the conjugal bed is the normal and natural. It is the normal and natural rule, it is the principle. **of course there are exceptions, but they are, only, some exceptions. The exceptions are not the rules.
**
**
Information in French:

lemonde.fr/vous/article/2012/10/22/le-lit-conjugal-est-latin-et-catholique_1778546_3238.html

 

[fpt]

The norm of married people sleeping in the same bed is something that began to take off in the Industrial Revolution era when large portions of people began migrating to the cities for work and ended up living in compact apartments. Beforehand it was more common for couples to get together, and perhaps sleep together, during sexual congress, but otherwise they’d sleep in their own bed. The current status quo is always a cultural norm I took for granted, but reflecting on it, it does seem pretty intense that a couple is expected to literally sleep in the same bed, in the same room, every single night. The need to do so has become extinct for a lot of people, since most us aren’t living in a box apartment, but this is a tradition that has lived on in American cultures and many other cultures.

What are you guys’ thoughts on this? I’m sure some people don’t mind it at all, but others’ probably don’t like it but just do it anyway because they assume that’s just the way it’s suppose to be.

The marriage Bed is not linked to the post-Industrial Revolution. It is a false idea, it is a wrong view. The marriage bed (the conjugal bed, the marital bed, the bed of spouses) is the principle, the rule, the normality, the normal law. The catholicism, the Roman catholic teaching, the latin catholicity are in favor of the marriage bed. All normal couple should be in favor of the fact of sleeping together in the same bed for the marital act or not, as the rule, as the norm, as being one of vows of the marriage. It is very important of having this idea in the head in the moment of wedding.

The marriage implies:
1.The union of souls and the union of bodies;
2.The marital act, in the human fashion with the sexual cooperation (the fact of making one flesh);
3.The fact of having and sharing the marriage bed for conjugal sex, or for being together, without the conjugal sex, as the normal rule, as the normal principle, as the principle of the naturality of marriage.
4. The fact of sharing the sexuality, the nudity, the intimacy, the sleeping, all the states of conjugal life.

 

[TK421]

So then there is a theological basis for why couples are prone to sleeping in the same bed. I knew nobility in the past frequently slept in separate beds (and separate rooms), but I suppose the nobility weren’t always a very reliable model for marriage. I had the impression common people might have been more prone to sleep together simply because they were common people.

I tried Googling this and there seems to be an explosion of strong opinions surrounding the issue (then again, when isn’t there? )

 

[Joannm]

After years and years of sleeping uncomfortably in a queen, king, water bed, pillow top, etc, we finally tried twin beds pushed together. Now we both get a good night sleep. No more kicking in the night, no more pulling or pushing off blankets or being woken up by tossing and turning. If someone gets up in the middle of the night or up early, the other is not disturbed. My parents always slept in double beds and they are married 61 years.

 

[DaveBj]

After years and years of sleeping uncomfortably in a queen, king, water bed, pillow top, etc, we finally tried twin beds pushed together. Now we both get a good night sleep. No more kicking in the night, no more pulling or pushing off blankets or being woken up by tossing and turning. If someone gets up in the middle of the night or up early, the other is not disturbed. My parents always slept in double beds and they are married 61 years.

Sleeping in different rooms (or even on different floors of the house) also helps, especially when one partner snores like a diesel engine Some people can’t sleep comfortably unless they’re snuggled up with their respective spouses. Other people can’t sleep if there’s anyone (or anything = cat/dog) else on the bed. Diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks.