The ever-changing nature of society sees social norms come and go with every generation, with some being ushered out the door far quicker than others for obvious reasons. To illustrate, here are 17 social norms of the past that just don’t fit into modern society.
Practicing Religion
As predicted by philosophers in the 19th century, religion has well and truly begun its slow demise, with the number of churchgoers depleting significantly over the past 30 years. A Pew Research Center poll even found that the number of people identifying as Christians has dipped by almost 30% since the early 1990s!
Being Patriotic
Patriotism has taken on many different meanings over the last two centuries. It was commonly used as a trigger word to encourage young men to sign up for military service throughout various conflicts. Nowadays, it holds less weight and more toxicity, as various far-right groups have used it as part of their nationalist rhetoric.
No Premarital Sex
The sexual revolution of the 1960s rendered the idea that couples should wait until marriage to have sex completely irrelevant. The ease of accessing contraception, coupled with the decline of religion, also helped stamp out the outdated social construct. We think that’s for the best!
Looking Down on Abortion
Against all conceivable logic, abortion within the first trimester of pregnancy has historically been furiously looked down upon, even after the Roe v Wade decision of 1973. While there are still some who believe it to be unjust, public opinion is largely in favor of it remaining legal these days.
Men at Work, Women at Home
Over the last 75 years, the weight balance in the US labor force has evened significantly. One fact that demonstrates this is how the number of women in the workplace rose from 16 million in 1950 to 66 million 50 years later! While total equality has not yet been reached, we’re making progress.
Racism
Racism has been more than a problem throughout history; it’s been a pandemic. Thankfully, although society still has a long way to go, racism is widely condemned in modern society, no longer accepted by the masses and only practiced by the few.
Homophobia
In a similar vein to racism, homophobia has historically had a grip on the United States. It was only as recently as 1962 when movements to legally decriminalize homosexuality began to gain some traction in the state of Illinois, as PBS reports. Nowadays, homosexuality is rightly understood to be a natural human trait.
Large Families
In the 1960s and ‘70s, it was idealized that American families consist of three or more children, a sentiment that no longer fits today’s society. With women wanting to focus on their careers, overpopulation, and the cost of living all factoring into people’s lives, the desire for large families is no longer substantial.
Stick to One Career
With transferable skills becoming a high-value commodity among employers, the workforce is becoming more versatile and able to turn their hands to multiple different job roles. Workers are now looking to squeeze as much of their potential from themselves as possible, which will often involve hopping from one career to another.
Pink is For Girls, Blue is For Boys
In years gone by, children have been force-fed various gender-affirming stereotypes, preventing them from exploring their various personal interests. These beliefs don’t just end once a child hits maturity; they carry on, breeding issues such as toxic masculinity and misogyny. Thankfully, this is slowly disappearing from society.
Marrying Into the Same Race
The Loving v Virginia case of 1967 helped to change the frankly racist narrative in the US that suggested you should only marry into your own race. Thank goodness for that! In 1968, according to a Gallup survey, only 20% of Americans approved of interracial marriage, compared to 87% 45 years later.
Smoking in Public
Before public smoking laws started to bleed into society in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was normal to be able to smoke indoors and on public transport. Those days are gone, with fewer people smoking on the whole, with awareness of its dangers at an all-time high.
Unsustainable Practices
With the state of the climate at its most unhealthy, there is no place for the carefree, unsustainable practices of yesteryear. Using single-use plastics, not recycling, and willingly pumping smoke and carbon emissions into the air is no longer acceptable in today’s society. Now that is progress!
Marital Traditions
In the past, weddings seldom took place outside of a religious building; the groom would have always asked the bride’s father for permission, and the bride would have always taken the groom’s surname. All three of these traditions are fading out, with couples choosing to go against the norm and do things their way.
Married With Children
Being married with children was once deemed the ultimate goal, meaning that many people had already settled down with large portions of their lives ahead of them. Now that social norms are changing, many people are choosing not to marry, and there is no stigma around not having children.
Bowing to ‘Superiors’
Whether it be police, bosses, or leaders, people are realizing that their worth in the world isn’t defined by their social status. For example, this is being realized in the UK, where a study published in The Guardian found that just 12% of 18-34-year-olds support the British monarchy!
Breadwinning Husbands
Lastly, it once seemed as though a man’s ego would never recover should his wife be earning more than him. As times have progressed, it is no longer uncommon for the woman to be the core breadwinner in a relationship, nor is it uncommon for both parties to be satisfied with the situation. We think that’s wonderful!
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