Gina Johnson
The vogue for married couples to sleep in separate beds ran from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. This was partly due to the belief that it was healthier, and partly because it was seen as a way of showing that a marriage was based on companionship and shared interests rather than sex. However, the first TV program to show a husband and wife sharing the same bed on a regular basis was the 1947 sitcom *Mary Kay and Johnny*. In the 1950s, *Ozzie and Harriet* were seen in the same bed, breaking the taboo.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | Pre-industrial Europe |
| Necessity | Most families could not afford individual beds for each family member |
| Livestock | Animals slept in the same room as the family |
| Children | Children shared beds with their parents |
| Hygiene | It was considered healthier to sleep separately to prevent disease transmission |
| Fashion | It was considered "modern" to sleep in separate beds |
| TV shows | Married couples were rarely pictured in bed together, but some shows featured married couples in one large bed |
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What You'll Learn
- In pre-industrial Europe, couples shared beds out of necessity
- In the 19th and 20th centuries, twin beds were considered 'modern' and healthier
- In the 1950s, TV shows began to feature married couples in the same bed
- In earlier times, it was not uncommon for livestock to sleep in the same room as people
- Most families could not afford individual beds for each family member until recently
In pre-industrial Europe, couples shared beds out of necessity
In pre-Victorian times, a bed was a very expensive investment. From the 15th century onwards, kings and noblemen would possess great and sumptuous beds, but for most people, a bed could account for a quarter of the house's value. The clergyman William Harrison wrote in 1580 that it took seven years for a married couple to buy a mattress and a sack of chaff as a pillow. It simply saved on costs to sleep together as a family.
In addition, pre-Victorian people did not see sleeping and bedrooms as a private affair. Sleeping and beds were seen as we now see eating: fine to do in company, not something to hide or do in private.
In medieval Europe, it was common for families to share beds with each other and with guests. Sharing the same room and covers conserved resources and generated welcome warmth.
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In the 19th and 20th centuries, twin beds were considered 'modern' and healthier
From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, twin beds were considered modern and healthier. Victorian doctors warned that sharing a bed would allow the weaker sleeper to drain the vitality of the stronger. They were also considered a way to prevent the spread of germs through exhaled breath. By the 1920s, twin beds were seen as a desirable, modern and fashionable choice, particularly among the middle classes. They were indicative of forward-thinking married couples, balancing nocturnal 'togetherness' with a continuing commitment to separateness and autonomy.
In her book, *A Cultural History of Twin Beds*, Lancaster University professor Hilary Hinds details how doctors warned of the dire consequences of bed-sharing. Hinds' book uncovers a "compellingly curious 20th-century cultural history" and offers "fresh perspectives on public health, domestic hygiene, marital sexuality and even modernity itself".
The adoption of twin beds also had a political aspect: by the 1920s and 1930s, men and women were more equal. By having identical, equal, modern twin beds, couples showed that their marriage was based on more than sex – companionship and shared interests in an equal relationship of autonomous partners.
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In the 1950s, TV shows began to feature married couples in the same bed
While it may seem surprising that it took until the 1950s for TV shows to depict married couples sharing a bed, it's important to note that this practice was not uncommon in pre-industrial Europe, where entire families often shared beds out of necessity. In the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, however, the vogue among middle-class couples was to sleep in separate beds, influenced by hygienic writers who argued that this was healthier and reduced the risk of disease transmission.
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In earlier times, it was not uncommon for livestock to sleep in the same room as people
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance Europe, things began to change, at least for the wealthy. Merchants and other relatively wealthy people began building homes with separate bed chambers. However, the vast majority of families would not have been able to afford individual beds for each family member until very recently. From the late 19th to the mid-20th century, middle-class couples adopted the new "modern" fashion of sleeping in twin beds. This was considered healthier, as it was believed to improve sleep and reduce disease transmission.
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Most families could not afford individual beds for each family member until recently
In pre-industrial Europe, couples shared beds out of necessity, and children often shared beds with their parents. In the 1950s, married couples were shown sleeping in separate twin beds on television. From the late 19th to the mid-20th century, middle-class couples adopted the new "modern'" fashion of sleeping in twin beds, as it was considered healthier and better for sleep and disease transmission.
Most families could not afford individual beds for each family member until very recently. This is still the case for many families, especially those with lower incomes. Research shows that the shortage of affordable housing costs the American economy about $2 trillion a year in lower wages and productivity. Without affordable housing, families have constrained opportunities to increase their earnings, causing slower GDP growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Married couples have slept in the same bed for centuries. In pre-industrial Europe, it was common for couples to share beds out of necessity, and children often shared beds with their parents.
From the late 19th to the mid-20th century, it became fashionable for middle-class couples in the West to sleep in separate twin beds. This trend was influenced by hygienic writers who argued that sleeping apart was healthier and reduced the risk of disease transmission.
Yes, there are several examples of married couples sleeping in separate beds on TV. For instance, Rob and Laura Petrie in *Bewitched*, and Fred and Lily in *I Love Lucy*.
