Things we all did in the ’70s that would get Gen Z canceled
The 1970s represented a decade defined by disco, environmental awakening, and lingering post-war social structures, where polyester leisure suits and shag carpeting symbolized a culture operating with profound ignorance about health, safety, and human dignity. While the decade brought early pushes for equality through second-wave feminism and civil rights activism, many normalized practices around race, public health, and institutional sexism were wildly unacceptable by Gen Z’s standards. The lack of regulation and ubiquity of overt stereotyping showcase a society operating with institutionalized bias that would be immediately “canceled” today.
Identity, race, and blatant stereotyping
Mainstream TV and movies utilized racial slurs, occasionally wore blackface for comedic effect, and relied heavily on minstrel-style tropes that would be instantly flagged as white supremacy today. Native American caricatures dominated sports team mascots and Hollywood portrayals that utilized highly offensive, dehumanizing “savage” or “drunken Indian” stereotypes with zero pushback. The widespread, casual, and public use of slurs against virtually every marginalized group in common conversation, humor, and media was normalized to the extent that comedians built entire careers on bigotry presented as observational humor.
Public health, toxins, and environmental neglect
Ubiquitous use of asbestos in insulation and homes, and lead in paint and gasoline, occurred with little public knowledge about the profound neurological and physical damage these toxins caused. Lack of strict safety standards led to children’s clothing, especially pajamas, being highly flammable, a public safety issue Gen Z would deem criminal negligence. The absence of widespread recycling infrastructure and the normalized practice of throwing trash directly out of car windows or into open bodies of water demonstrated an environmental mindset that treats the planet as an unlimited dumping ground.
Institutionalized sexism and workplace norms
The accepted, legal practice of explicitly categorizing job listings by gender through “Help Wanted—Male/Female” ads often led to lower pay or outright exclusion for women from entire industries. The routine and legal firing of women simply for becoming pregnant showed a complete lack of modern protection for reproductive rights and family leave. The widespread acceptance of overtly sexual workplace harassment was simply categorized as “flirting” or “part of the job” before structured HR policies existed, leaving women with no recourse against predatory behavior.
Questionable lifestyle and aesthetics
The uncritical embrace of cheap, synthetic, non-breathable polyester for everyday clothing, including fire-prone children’s wear, demonstrated prioritization of convenience over safety. The use of wall-to-wall, high-pile shag carpet in kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas, which modern sensibilities would view as cesspools of dirt and bacteria, was considered stylish. The celebration of highly chemicalized, gelatin-heavy “convenience foods,” such as aspics and canned everything, over fresh ingredients reflected nutritional ignorance that Gen Z would criticize as culturally cringeworthy.
Conclusion
The 1970s set the stage for later progress but were deeply entrenched in discriminatory habits and dangerous practices that today’s activism directly confronts. What was considered normal then (structural inequality and toxic materials) is now central to modern social justice movements, reminding us that progress is relative and today’s unquestioned norms will likely face a similar reckoning from future generations.
.Related:
- 25 things we all did in the ’90s that would get Gen Z canceled
- 21 things that almost feel illegal to buy in bulk (but aren’t)
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This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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