This paper investigates links between social inequality and reproductive behavior. It complements the extensive research on the stratification of young adults' life chances in education and the labor market by considering changes over time in the stratification of contraceptive use at first intercourse by parental background. We seek to understand detraditionalization trends in young people’s sexually intimate behavior by investigating whether these trends were driven by particular social groups and how they were supported by policy initiatives. We study Italy from 1950 to 2006, which shows strong regional and socioeconomic disparities, and comparatively slow changes in religiosity and gender norms. Data from the “Survey on Italians’ Sexual Behavior” (2006) and macro indicators on family planning centers are used. The findings show a steep increase in contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse over time, stratified by parental background, but only for condom use. We did not find that family planning centers intervened in these relationships.

本文调查了社会不平等与生育行为之间的联系。它补充了对年轻人在教育和劳动力市场上的生活机会分层的广泛研究，考虑了父母背景下第一次性交时避孕药具使用分层随时间的变化。我们试图通过调查这些趋势是否由特定社会群体驱动以及它们如何得到政策举措的支持来了解年轻人性亲密行为的去传统化趋势。我们研究了 1950 年至 2006 年的意大利，它显示出强烈的地区和社会经济差异，以及宗教信仰和性别规范的变化相对缓慢。使用了“意大利人性行为调查”（2006 年）的数据和计划生育中心的宏观指标。调查结果显示，随着时间的推移，第一次性交时避孕药具的使用急剧增加，按父母背景分层，但仅限于使用安全套。我们没有发现计划生育中心干预这些关系。