Top 17+ Things That Were Normal in the ’60s (But Unthinkable Today)

The 1960s were completely different to life today, and while it might not seem that long ago, many everyday things are now unthinkable. If you grew up in the ‘60s, then you can probably still remember that these 17 things used to be completely normal.

No Seat Belts… Ever

Here’s one that’ll make you cringe, seat belts were barely used in the ’60s, and a lot of cars didn’t even have them in the back seat. Kids sat in the front seat, sometimes standing up while the car was moving, and baby car seats were more for keeping kids from crawling around.

Drinking While Driving (or Right Before)

This one’s hard to imagine now, but casual drinking and driving was way more common in the ’60s. It wasn’t unusual for someone to crack open a beer on the way home or bring a flask along for the ride.

DUI laws were around, but they weren’t strongly enforced, so it wasn’t seen as reckless the way it is now.

Littering Without Guilt

In the ’60s, people didn’t think twice about tossing trash out of car windows or leaving garbage behind at a picnic. There were no recycling bins and very little awareness about pollution. Highways and beaches were full of litter, and nobody seemed all that bothered by it.

Ads That Were Shockingly Sexist

A lot of print and TV ads from that era were incredibly sexist by today’s standards. Women were shown as clueless about money, cooking, or making decisions without a man’s help. Ads openly joked about husbands correcting their wives or women needing approval from men.

Kids Roaming Free With Zero Supervision

While it’s strange now, it wasn’t weird for a 10-year-old to ride their bike miles from home, stay out until sunset, and talk to random strangers. Parents just expected you to be back before dark, and that was about it.

We live in a different world now, but back then, it was totally normal to let kids figure it out on their own.

Corporal Punishment in Schools

This one really happened, and in the ’60s, it was totally legal and normal for teachers to hit students as a form of discipline. It was seen as tough love or ‘teaching respect.’ Today, corporal punishment in schools is banned in many states, and even where it’s still technically allowed, it’s extremely rare.

Casual Racism in Media and Everyday Life

Unfortunately, casual racism was deeply embedded in ’60s culture. It showed up in TV shows, commercials, cartoons, and everyday conversation. Blackface appeared on stage and screen without apology.

Today, any of that would rightfully be called out immediately, however, in the ‘60s, it was just seen as normal in a lot of circles.

No Bike Helmets

Rewind a few decades, and kids rode bikes everywhere, and with zero helmets. Head injuries were common, but back then, no one really linked them to permanent damage. Bike helmets didn’t become mainstream until the ’80s and ’90s. These days, most kids wear proper safety gear, and it’s even required by law in many places.

Driving Without a License or Insurance

Now, this is hard to imagine, but in some places in the ’60s, people drove without a license or insurance, and it wasn’t that big of a deal. Rules were looser, systems weren’t as strict, and insurance wasn’t required in every state. Teens would sometimes drive before they were even legal, especially in rural areas.

Drinking Tap Water Without a Second Thought

Okay, this might sound weird, but it was totally normal to drink water straight from the tap or even the garden hose, and nobody thought twice about it. There were no water filters on kitchen faucets, no bottled water obsession, and definitely no fancy refill stations.

Nowadays, with all the talk about water quality, lead pipes, and contamination, a lot of people don’t go near tap water without a filter.

Smoking While Pregnant

This may be hard to believe now, but smoking while pregnant was completely normal in the ’60s. Doctors didn’t fully understand the risks yet, and cigarette companies were still pumping out ads that made smoking seem harmless. Some even suggested it helped with stress or morning sickness.

No Child Car Seats

If you’ve ever wrestled with a modern car seat, this one’s gonna sound wild. In the ’60s, car seats for babies and toddlers were barely a thing, and when they were, they were designed more for convenience than safety. Some were basically fabric slings or metal frames with no padding.

Spanking in Public

For sure, this one really shows how much social norms have shifted. In the ’60s, it wasn’t unusual for parents to spank their kids right there in the grocery store, the mall, or even at church. And guess what? Nobody said a word.

Fast forward to now, and most people would do a double-take, or pull out their phone to record it.

Doctors Making House Calls

Believe it or not, doctors used to come to your house back in the day. It was totally normal for your family doctor to show up with a little black bag and check on you from the comfort of your own living room. It wasn’t just for emergencies either, as house calls were just standard routine.

Milk Delivery

It was super common to have a milkman drop off fresh bottles right at your doorstep, often in reusable glass containers. You’d leave out the empties, and he’d swap them for full ones. These days, you grab a gallon at the store or order groceries online, and the milkman is pretty much gone.