Life in the 1950s and 1960s was a completely different world. Everything from dating rules to workplace behavior followed strict social codes that would make most people scratch their heads today. These unwritten rules shaped how people dressed, talked, and lived their daily lives during the Baby Boomer era. Looking back at these social norms shows just how much society has changed in the last 60 years.
Here are 15 social norms from the Boomer era that would raise eyebrows today.
Smoking Everywhere
People smoked cigarettes literally everywhere – in hospitals, on airplanes, during business meetings, and even while pregnant. Doctors recommended specific cigarette brands to their patients. Ashtrays were a common sight in every room of the house. Teachers could smoke in the classroom while teaching students.
Children Playing Unsupervised All Day
Parents had no idea where their kids were from morning until dinner time. Children would leave home after breakfast to play in the neighborhood and only return when they got hungry. Nobody tracked their location or scheduled play dates. Kids solved their own problems without adult supervision.
Formal Dress Codes for Everything
People dressed up in formal clothes just to go grocery shopping or take a flight. Men wore suits and ties to baseball games. Women put on dresses, gloves, and hats to visit the bank. Even kids had to wear their Sunday best for simple errands and family dinners.
Gender-Separated Help Wanted Ads
Job listings in newspapers were divided into “Help Wanted – Male” and “Help Wanted – Female” sections. Many jobs were completely off-limits to women. Companies could openly refuse to hire women for certain positions. Career options for women were mostly limited to teaching, nursing, or secretarial work.
Door-to-Door Salesmen Welcome
Families welcomed random salespeople into their homes without fear. Door-to-door salesmen would spend hours demonstrating vacuum cleaners and encyclopedias in living rooms. People bought insurance, makeup, and household items from complete strangers who knocked on their doors.
Three TV Channels Only
Television viewing was limited to three major networks that stopped broadcasting at midnight. Everyone watched the same shows simultaneously because there was no other choice. Families planned their evenings around TV schedules. Missing a favorite show meant waiting months for a rerun.
No Seat Belts or Car Seats
Kids bounced around freely in cars without any safety restraints. Babies sat in their mothers’ laps in the front seat. Children played and even slept on the back window ledge during long trips. Nobody wore seat belts because most cars didn’t even have them.
Married Women Needed Permission
Married women couldn’t open their own bank accounts or get credit cards without their husband’s permission. Many women couldn’t rent apartments or buy property on their own. Some states even prevented wives from having separate bank accounts until the 1970s.
Spanking in Schools
Teachers could physically discipline students with paddles or rulers. Parents signed permission slips allowing schools to spank their children. Getting paddled at school usually meant getting punished again at home. Physical discipline was seen as normal and necessary.
No Food Labels
Food packages didn’t list ingredients or nutrition facts, so people had no way to know what chemicals or preservatives were in their food. Products could contain harmful additives without warning labels, and ingredient lists and calorie counts didn’t become mandatory until much later.
Party Lines for Phone Calls
Multiple households shared the same phone line and could listen to each other’s calls. People had to wait their turn to make phone calls. Neighbors knew when someone was using the phone because they couldn’t get a dial tone. Private conversations were nearly impossible.
Doctors Promoting Cigarettes
Medical doctors appeared in cigarette advertisements recommending specific brands. Hospitals sold cigarettes in gift shops. Tobacco companies used phrases like “doctor-approved” in their marketing. Medical journals contained cigarette ads claiming health benefits.
Women Couldn’t Serve on Juries
Many states banned women from serving on juries or required special permission. Some places only allowed women on juries for specific types of cases. Female defendants often faced all-male juries, and this practice continued in some states until the 1970s.
Segregated Public Spaces
Many public places had separate facilities based on race. Water fountains, bathrooms, schools, and businesses were segregated by law. Housing discrimination was legal and common. Neighborhoods had restrictions preventing minorities from buying homes.
Lead Paint Everywhere
Homes, schools, and toys were covered in lead-based paint despite known health risks. Children’s furniture and cribs used lead paint until it was banned. People scraped and sanded lead paint without safety equipment. The dangers were ignored for decades despite scientific evidence.
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