For better and for worse, times sure have changed over the last 30 years.
Many habits that were once considered normal, commonplace, and harmless decades ago are now considered unacceptable… and for good reason!
From environmental ignorance to cultural appropriation, how many of the following behaviors do you remember being normal when you were growing up?
1. Smoking Indoors
These days, it’s difficult to believe that smoking was once so common that even doctors and nurses engaged in the practice in hospitals. It also wasn’t that long ago when restaurants, bars, and even offices allowed the practice as well.
Thankfully, these days, many states have enacted stricter laws to prevent or reduce people’s exposure to these toxic chemicals.
While people are free to partake in their own homes, no longer do the rest of us have to endure the asthma-inducing lingering smell.
2. Not Wearing Seatbelts
Do you remember being a small child, riding around in the backseat with no seatbelt at all?
While many states passed seat belt laws in the 1980s and 90s, this doesn’t mean they were always widely enforced. These days, it’s much more common to see highway signs reminding motorists of local seatbelt laws as well as police pulling people over for seat belt violations.
3. Letting Children Roam Free Without Supervision
Thirty years ago, it was much more common for children to ride their bikes, visit local shops, and generally roam free (without adult supervision) for hours each day. As long as they were home by the time the street lights came on, they had a great deal of independence.
These days, with the constant scary news reports, many parents can’t imagine letting their little ones roam free, even if they think the kids could handle it. There’s too great a risk for problems, from sketchy strangers to concerned Karens calling the police.
4. Being Unreachable by Cell Phone
Remember when you could completely unplug, visit the store, and be unreachable? While it did lead to some safety concerns, it sounds like a dream!
These days, many people are expected to have their phones on them at all times just in case of an emergency. This doesn’t only apply to doctors on call, but office workers, teenagers, parents, and more.
As a result, many of us end up on our phones way more than we’d like to, simply because we aren’t “allowed” to leave our phones behind and enjoy an afternoon unplugged.
5. Using Offensive Slurs
Only a few decades ago, it was considered commonplace (and even funny!) to make run of others based on their gender, orientation, race, or the number of partners they’d had. It didn’t even matter if these traits were true. It was common to insult others by claiming that they were or had done something they hadn’t.
Thankfully, that kind of language is now considered offensive and derogatory today. While we still have a great deal of work to do in this area, society as a whole is far less accepting of and more aware of the negative impact of this type of language can have.
You can still find many questionable instances in old movies and TV shows, but you aren’t as likely to see it on modern TV today.
6. Visiting the Tanning Bed
If you used to visit the tanning bed when you were younger, you probably remember the glasses, the tropical smell, and the little stickers everyone placed on their hip to get a cute little heart or bunny shape.
While tanning hasn’t died (you could still go today if you wanted to), it has dramatically decreased in popularity and mainstream culture over the last couple of decades.
Young girls these days are far less concerned with being dark enough and far more concerned with aging gracefully, swapping out tanning beds for trips to the make-up store or dermatologist.
7. Corporal Punishment
You may be surprised to learn: Spanking is still perfectly legal in many states today — not just at home but at school!
Yet, just because something is still technically legal doesn’t mean it’s widely practiced.
Do you remember getting hit or spanked when you were a child? Thankfully, the practice is almost unheard of in schools today!
8. Rampant Discrimination
Looking for a job, a place to live, or a new car? If you’re a member of a race, gender, or ethnic group that’s commonly discriminated against… good luck.
While we still have a ton of work to do this area, the good news is that the general public is more aware that discrimination is a problem then they have been in the past. As a result, there are many agencies and resources available to those facing unfair discrimination.
Hopefully, discrimination will become even less common and widely-accepted over the next thirty years.
9. Casual Flirting in the Workplace
Harmless flirting or harassment? Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell.
Thirty years ago, workplaces often overlooked crude suggestive behavior. It was part of the job, and women (and some men!) were expected to simply deal with it.
Thankfully, today there is a greater awareness that this type of unwanted behavior shouldn’t be acceptable. While unwanted attention still happens, it isn’t considered as “harmless” as it once was, making a safer work environment for all.
10. Negative Stereotypes in the Media
Stereotypes can be funny. It’s good to laugh at ourselves and our unique quirks, especially when they are exaggerated for effect on TV and in movies.
Unfortunately, stereotypes and caricatures can be hurtful as well, reinforcing negative beliefs and leading to further discrimination. This can be especially problematic for people of certain races, ethnic groups, or genders as well as those with disabilities.
Thankfully, these days, there’s a greater emphasis on including authentic and respectful portrayals of characters who might have been discriminated against in the past. There’s also a greater awareness that representation and diversity matter.
11. Bullying and Harassment
While bullying is still unfortunately pretty commonplace today, the general public is now more aware of how problematic it can be.
Rather than turning a blind eye to rampant bullying, many schools are enacting stricter policies to reduce and hopefully eliminate this type of behavior from the learning environment.
There’s a greater emphasis on creating safe environments for students (and adults!) in schools, in workplaces, and online.
12. Environmental Ignorance
Thirty years ago, the general public was less aware and less concerned about environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. And even when people did know that there was an issue, they often couldn’t be bothered to do much to help.
These days, there’s a greater awareness of our growing need to protect our environment.
We may not agree on the best way to do this, but there’s an increased concern that we need to do something to change our behavior.
13. Cultural Appropriation
Borrowing elements of other cultures without understanding — or even wearing them as Halloween costumes — was much more common and far less controversial a few decades ago. These days, there’s a greater awareness of how practices like these can harm or exploit others.
This doesn’t mean that children can never wear Halloween costumes for fun. Rather, mainstream media and celebrities do need to be far more thoughtful of the trends they wish to adopt for fear of accidentally (or purposely) offending others and receiving the backlash.
14. Privacy Norms
These days, many people are (rightly!) concerned with how large corporations are collecting, storing, sharing, and using their private and personal information. No one loves getting hundreds of unwanted spam calls or emails, and many people don’t appreciate being targeted by advertising.
It makes sense that this is a growing concern, as many of the measures advertisers use today didn’t exist thirty years ago. While new technology can be wonderful, it can also cause problems too. This is a balance many companies and consumers are still figuring out.
15. Animal Cruelty
Finally, while animal cruelty has never been “acceptable” or celebrated, there is a greater awareness and concern for the treatment of animals than there has been in the past.
Certain forms of entertainment as well as certain farming methods that were once commonplace are now being called into question as concerned citizens and agencies advocate for animal safety.
10 “Must-See” Biblical Films to Binge Watch This Weekend
When you first look at it, Hollywood and the Church seem like oil and water. After all, the media coming out of Hollywood often includes excessive violence, mature themes, and values that don’t align with Christianity.
But every once in a while, a Christian-themed movie does really well in theaters. From Bible stories to unexplainable miracles, these faith-based movies are worth adding to your watch list.
10 “Must-See” Biblical Films to Binge Watch This Weekend
Are You Surprised? These 10 Celebrities Have Publicly Rejected Faith
In a world where many people believe in God or other higher powers, it’s quite surprising when a famous person publicly states that they don’t believe in any of it. However, these ten celebrities have done just that! They’ve come forward and admitted that they’re atheists.
Are You Surprised? These 10 Celebrities Have Publicly Rejected Faith
Brittany Ann is an ECPA bestselling author and founder of Equipping Godly Women and Monetize My Ministry. She’s also a Christian speaker, podcaster, and conference host. Her work has been featured on numerous TV, radio, and online ministries, including CBN, MSN, Christianity Today, Evangelical Alliance, Patheos, Crosswalk, and more.
