Human society is constantly evolving, and behavior that may not have ‘batted an eyelid’ a couple of decades ago may be seen as entirely unacceptable today. This is primarily due to the modernization of society and our gradually more progressive attitudes- not to mention scientific and technological advancements. We collected 18 things deemed socially acceptable 20 years ago that are frowned upon in today’s modern world.
Throwing Plastic Away
While it may be hard to imagine as we carefully clean and sort our trash items and place them in the appropriate bins, society wasn’t always so environmentally aware. In the past two decades, recycling programs have provided better facilities and increased public awareness, helping to reduce waste and conserve resources (Recycle Now).
Homophobic Slurs
Recent progress in societal acceptance has seen LGBTQ+ individuals and communities receive more equal rights and less discrimination. Although GLAAD states that homophobia remains a persistent form of hate speech, it is becoming less common, and perpetrators are being increasingly ‘called out,’ particularly on social media.
Not Using Seatbelts
Seatbelt use has recently evolved from a personal choice to a legal requirement in almost all areas of the world. Hard-hitting public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement by the police (including higher penalties) have made NOT wearing a seatbelt almost unthinkable (NHTSA).
Casual Racism
Happily, our society is becoming increasingly aware of the harm that derogatory language can do- particularly if it pertains to someone’s ethnicity or skin tone. Things still aren’t perfect, but increased awareness of racial issues and more cultural ‘mixing’ have helped promote a friendlier world that frequently rejects everyday racism.
Littering
The days of throwing your trash out of the car window as you drive along are, thankfully, a thing of the past. Once common practice, littering is now widely regarded as irresponsible and bad for the environment. Environmental organizations like Keep America Beautiful have used research, reports, and education to help tackle the problem successfully.
Airbrushed Photos
According to Business Insider, several celebrities have criticized the airbrushing of photographs for use in advertising and media. Strides towards promoting body positivity and an understanding of the harmful effects of unachievable beauty standards have led to greater demand and respect for unfiltered, natural shots- wrinkles, cellulite, eye bags, and all!
Single-Use Plastic Bags
Environmental concerns regarding microplastics, ocean health, and the sustainability of mankind’s ‘plastic obsession’ have led to significant efforts to reduce the use of plastics in our daily lives, particularly in the last 20 years. Single-use plastics like takeaway boxes, coffee cups, and plastic bags are becoming less and less acceptable.
Sunbathing
A couple of decades ago, sun-bronzed skin was highly desirable. Nowadays, however, the Skin Cancer Foundation says that increased awareness of the health risks of prolonged sun exposure has led to a shift in attitudes. People with paler skin are now using sun cream or staying covered, and beauty standards include a far greater range of skin tones.
Public Drunkenness
The idea of the local drunk being a harmless, somewhat amusing figure has now changed with greater public awareness of the physical and mental health risks of alcoholism. There is also now a greater stigma attached to being drunk in public places and a far greater likelihood that your embarrassing antics are being filmed for social media!
Gender Stereotypes
In our modern world of preferred pronouns, gender fluidity, and greater acceptance, gender stereotypes are no longer socially permissible. According to The Millenium Project, harmful stereotypes about women, including their sole role as mothers/housekeepers, are now on the decline and being actively rejected by young generations of women.
Not Wearing Helmets
A greater awareness of the potential for severe head injuries as a result of falling from a pushbike or motorcycle has caused a significant uptick in helmet use, particularly for children. Bike and crash helmets are now considered essential pieces of safety equipment for any journey.
Wasting Water
Gone are the days of leaving the hose on while washing your car or running a bath every single night. As we have become more aware of water as a valuable, limited resource, conserving water has become more important, and wasting it is now seen as irresponsible (EPA).
Excessive Noise Pollution
Recent research has found that quiet, peaceful environments are essential for mental health and well-being, particularly at night. This has led to a focus on creating quieter neighborhoods and greater disapproval of loud activities- now frequently deemed to be selfish and inconsiderate.
Public Shaming
According to Psychology Today, the advent of social media 20 years ago came with a trend for shaming individuals publicly on platforms like Facebook. However, the psychological and emotional toll it took led to a public outcry and calls for kinder behavior online.
Catcalling
Women amongst you may remember walking past a building site only to be wolf-whistled or inappropriately propositioned. Today, society sees such behavior as an aggressive and frightening form of harassment. Thus, behavior such as catcalling is far more likely to be disapproved of and called out by bystanders- male and female alike.
Discrimination Against Disabilities
While there used to be a stronger divide between people living with and without disabilities, that line is progressively becoming more blurred. Slurs aimed at people with reduced mobility, cognitive abilities, sight, or hearing are now unacceptable and frequently prompt society as a whole to defend the victim.
Prank Phone Calls
The trend whereby individuals would make jokes or harass others over the phone was once seen as harmless fun- something teens would do to the local pizza place to relieve boredom. Nowadays, anti-harassment sentiment and ‘caller ID’ technology make prank calling less acceptable and identifying the perpetrators far easier.