Ah, the 1970s: a time when fashion was loud, attitudes were laid-back, and some cultural behaviors were downright outrageous by today’s standards. Here’s a look at things from the ‘70s that would raise more than a few eyebrows if they made a comeback today.
1. Rampant Workplace Discrimination
Job listings openly specifying “male only” or “female preferred” were commonplace, and workplace discrimination was a norm. Today, these would lead to lawsuits and social media outrage.
2. Smoking Indoors
Lighting up a cigarette in offices, classrooms, and even airplanes was not only accepted but expected. Imagine the Twitter storm if someone tried that now!
3. Drinking and Driving
Drinking and driving laws were lax, and “one for the road” had a literal meaning that makes modern-day advocates for road safety shudder.
4. Littering as a Norm
Tossing garbage out of car windows wasn’t just seen in movies. It was a widespread practice with little to no public concern about environmental consequences.
5. Casual Racism and Sexism in Media
TV shows and movies often featured blatant racism and sexism, played for laughs or drama with little thought about the impact on those stereotyped.
6. Corporal Punishment in Schools
Teachers wielding paddles wasn’t just an idle threat but an accepted disciplinary practice. Today, it would provoke a national conversation about child abuse.
7. Complete Lack of Digital Privacy
The concept of privacy in the digital age didn’t exist—because the digital age hadn’t begun. The idea of sharing personal details without safeguarding privacy is unthinkable now.
8. Open Homophobia
Being openly gay was virtually taboo and could result in being ostracized or worse. Public figures who outed themselves faced severe repercussions.
9. No Seatbelts
Cars often lacked seatbelts, and if they had them, using them wasn’t mandatory. Now, driving without a seatbelt is generally considered a major safety violation.
10. Gendered Expectations for Kids
Boys were given trucks; girls got dolls. The rigid gender norms in children’s toys and expectations would now be criticized for limiting self-expression and identity.
11. Lack of Environmental Regulations
Factories belched smoke with few repercussions, and the word “recycling” was hardly in anyone’s vocabulary. Such disregard for the planet would not fly today.
12. Nonexistent Nutritional Concerns
TV dinners and processed foods reigned supreme with little awareness or concern about nutritional content, preservatives, or health impacts.
13. Unfiltered Politicians
Politicians could make public statements that were openly prejudiced or inflammatory without the immediate backlash of today’s social media-driven accountability.
14. Patriarchal Family Structures
Television and real life mirrored each other in showcasing a family dynamic where the father knew best and the mother’s primary role was to support and nurture.
15. Stigmatization of Mental Health
Mental health issues were deeply stigmatized, rarely discussed, and poorly understood, often resulting in isolation or worse for those affected.
16. Permissive Attitudes Toward Drinking in Public
Public intoxication was more socially acceptable, and seeing someone with a morning drink didn’t necessarily raise concerns about alcoholism.
17. Redlining and Housing Discrimination
Redlining kept minority populations out of certain neighborhoods legally. Such practices, while still present in subtler forms, are now illegal and widely condemned.
18. Taboos Around Discussing Sex
Sex education was either non-existent or highly moralized, and discussions about sexual health and consent were not a part of public conversation.
19. No Concerns Over Smoking Near Children
Adults smoked around children in homes, cars, and public spaces without a second thought about the secondhand smoke’s impact on health.
20. Media Censorship
The government and other institutions exercised broad powers to censor books, music, and media, which would incite fierce debates about free speech today.
Reflecting on the Past
While the ’70s had its charms and chills, many of its norms would not just be outdated but outright offensive today. It’s a decade best served with a side of nostalgia, not a full revival!
The post Cancelled: 1970’s Behaviors That Would Be Unacceptable in America Today first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
