A common focus of "mature" sexual discourse in America is the representation—or lack thereof—of sexuality in older adults:

"Mature" essays often dissect how American culture categorizes sexuality alongside race and disability:

: Personal narratives often highlight the struggle of individuals who do not fit into single racial or sexual categories, such as bi-racial individuals navigating white and black cultural expectations of sexuality.

Historically, American cinema was governed by the Hays Code , which strictly regulated "mature" content from the 1930s to the 1960s. The collapse of this code led to:

: While acceptance of premarital and same-sex activity has risen steadily since the 1970s, acceptance of extramarital sex has actually decreased.

American views on mature themes have shifted significantly over the last 40 years: