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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_2129304983-1.jpg)
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
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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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_2274715863.jpg)
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
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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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_2011341746.jpg)
TV dinners and processed foods reigned supreme with little awareness or concern about nutritional content, preservatives, or health impacts.
13. Unfiltered Politicians
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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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shutterstock_156436541-1.jpg)
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
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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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_370406375.jpg)
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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_1927310420.jpg)
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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shutterstock_1822634741-2.jpg)
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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_2217931751.jpg)
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
![](https://pulseofpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_1845468790-1.jpg)
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
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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 Outrageous Relics: 20 Shocking ‘70s Trends That Would Be Unacceptable in America Today first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Daisy Daisy.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.