Societal norms and values throughout history have evolved significantly over the decades. Many aspects that used to be deemed normal or acceptable have evolved and are now seen as either unethical or harmful. These 18 things that once were acceptable are now either condemned or considered otherwise.
Child Labor
The widespread employment of children during the Industrial Revolution, where minors were hired to work in mines and factories, was the norm back in the day. Even though they faced many dangerous conditions as well as minimal pay for long hours, they would still hire them, and the children had little choice. Nowadays, this is frowned upon, and children are more protected, where education is more of a priority than exploitation.
Racial Segregation
In many societies, aspects such as social segregation and legal inequalities are seen as part of life. This was most notable in countries like South Africa and the United States. When these systems were active, they enforced unequal opportunities and discrimination, which have now been eradicated thanks to the civil rights movements.
Colonialism
The practice of colonialism, according to Cornell Law School was characterized by ‘the act of power and dominance of one nation…over another’. When this idea was still rampant, many groups tried to take over political control, which led to economic exploitation, among other things. Today, the legacy of colonialism is widely criticized for its impacts on economies, politics, indigenous cultures, and social structures.
Foot Binding
Many cultural traditions that existed back in the day are now long gone and few and far between. An example of this is the Chinese tradition of ‘foot binding’. As a mark of beauty and status symbol, the idea of foot binding had many negative repercussions, such as disabilities, and as such, it was banned in the early 20th century.
Witch Hunts
Witch hunts were also somewhat of a norm many decades ago, and it was mainly women who were the targets. This led to thousands of women’s deaths based on mere assumptions rather than facts. As much as it may have been the norm between the 15th and 18th centuries, and especially in North America and Europe, this act does not exist anymore.
The Caste System
In countries such as India, there has been, and in some parts still exists, a ‘caste system’. What started 3000 years ago involved social stratification based on caste, which dictated people’s occupation, social status, marriage possibilities, and more. Some were excluded from society. Pew Research Center discloses that now there isn’t as much discrimination against castes.
Public Executions
A very grim reality and also a public spectacle that many citizens of certain countries used to indulge in was that of public executions. This was a form of punishment and was performed widely. However, thanks to human rights movements and modern sensibilities, the standards have changed and the idea has been completely abolished and/or significantly reduced to the death penalty instead.
Environmental Exploitation
One of the unfortunate things that industrialization brought to the world was massive environmental degradation. Different practices that have already harmed the planet and continue to do so to date, are now facing an increasing amount of scrutiny from various environmental groups. Thus, helping to maintain and improve the ecological balance.
Slavery
The ownership and trade of human beings as servants in households and labor was also another bad practice that was accepted and embedded in many societies. The elimination of this idea in the 19th century led to the end of all these notions of slavery in most parts of the world. Nowadays, there are certain forms of modern slavery.
Forced Sterilization
To control the growth of populations in some countries, their governments enforced the idea of forced or compulsory sterilization as a means of controlling population growth. This practice has now been banned as a violation of human rights and bodily autonomy in many modern societies. However, Human Rights Watch says that in some countries, this still prevails among young women.
Dueling
The modern legal system has abolished dueling as a common practice for fun and games. What was once a thing of nobility and practiced by many military officials, caused thousands of deaths. However, many of these legal systems have replaced these acts with less violent solutions, such as mediation and judicial processes.
Smoking in Public Spaces
It is nostalgic to think there was a time when we could smoke anywhere and everywhere, both in public places and private ones. This used to be the norm, but since the introduction of the ban on smoking on March 29th, 2004, surprisingly enough initiated in Ireland first as per We Forum, it has put an end to all indoor smoking throughout the world.
Homophobia and LGBTQ+ Discrimination
Gender identity and sexual orientation were two aspects that were judged harshly many years ago. Discrimination in LGBTQ+ society has now become less common in many countries, although some still institutionalize it in their social norms and laws. Changes are being made to create a more accepting society but challenges remain.
Animal Cruelty for Entertainment
Have you ever noticed the decline of animal circuses? What once used to be a normal form of entertainment for many, using animals to fight each other and perform in circuses, is now on the decline. A growing spread of awareness among animal rights and welfare groups has led to the decay of these practices, and the implementation of a stricter animal protection law has now taken over.
Acceptance of Marital Rape
The concept of marital rape became a crime in the 1900s in countries such as the UK. It was ignored for a long time; however, the introduction of the Sexual Offenses Act of 2003, as mentioned in The Week, shifted the views about this and brought women more protection, as well as emphasized the importance of autonomy and consent within a marriage.
Gender Discrimination
Discrimination and gender inequality were big things many years ago, especially towards women who didn’t have the right to vote, gain any form of education, or even look for employment. In the 20th century, that has all changed and the feminist movements have made significant strides in supporting gender equality, though disparities still exist.
Drunk Driving
Back in the day, the extent to which drunk driving was harmful wasn’t as recognized as it is nowadays. This is because the laws against it weren’t as stringent as they are now. It was normal for people to drink and drive, but over the years, harsher laws and penalties were enforced, which has led to a reduced number of accidents and deaths on the roads around the world.
Asbestos Use
The harmful effects of using Asbestos in buildings weren’t recognized until only a few years ago. It has been widely used in manufacturing and construction, mainly because of its corrosion and heat-resistant properties. But after further research, it was shown to affect people’s health negatively, causing them to suffer from conditions such as mesothelioma. This material is now strictly prohibited from being used in the construction of buildings.
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