Hookups began to become more frequent in the 1920s, with the upsurge of automobiles and novel entertainment, such as movie theaters. Instead of courting at home under a parents watchful eye, young adults left the home and were able to explore their sexuality more freely.

When did the term hooking up become popular?

History. The rise of hookups, a form of casual sex, has been described by evolutionary biologist Justin Garcia and others as a cultural revolution that had its beginnings in the 1920s.

When did hooking up become a thing?

Hookup culture is simply the newest stage in the evolution of sexual norms and behavior in America. Its roots lie in the early city life of the 1920s, the first time in U.S. history that young people routinely socialized in mixed-sex groups beyond the supervision of chaperones.