Oh, the 1980s what a decade to be alive! Imagine yourself with a perm, listening to Madonna off a boombox, and sporting neon leg warmers down the street with not a care in the world. It was a decade of unapologetic attitude, when life was an adventure before the internet tied us to computers. But come on: while we love the nostalgia, some of the things we thought were totally fine at the time would get us screaming, “What were we thinking?!” today.
From mushy restaurants to shady parenting methods, the 80s were a different beast, and we’ve learned a thing or two since. Reflecting, it’s amazing how far along society has progressed in such a condensed period of time. The “normal” of the 80s often feels like a fever dream now, with practices that seem reckless or downright wrong by today’s standards. Those mistakes sometimes stupid, sometimes dangerous paved the way for better laws, safer habits, and a more inclusive world. Progress isn’t always pretty, but it’s proof we’re growing. So strap on in our DeLorean, blast some synth-pop singles, and take a gander at 14 things from the 80s that were absolutely brilliant back in the day but now make us shudder.
This trip down the 80s is like reading through a yearbook you didn’t realize you owned laugh-out-loud hilarious and cringe-worthy in equal measure. You’ll laugh at some of these, be thankful for change at others, and a few will leave you wondering how we made it through. So, don your scrunchie, pad up those shoulders, and come with me on the zany, crazy, and sometimes stormy existence of the 1980s. You’re in for a wild ride, trust me!
1. Smoking in Public Spaces
Imagine you’re at a diner in 1985 and you need to have a burger, but you can hardly read the menu because cigarette smoke is so dense in the air. Smoking permeated every environment restaurants, malls, even on airplanes! Everyone knew that smoking wasn’t especially good for you, but it was so ingrained in everyday life that no one gave it a second thought. You’d sit in a smoky haze, and that was just normal.
- It’s hard to imagine now, but lighting up indoors was as common as sipping coffee.
- Cigarettes were a social staple, passed around like candy at parties.
- Non-smokers had no escape smoke clung to clothes, hair, everything.
- Offices were foggy with smoke; ashtrays sat on every desk.
- Kids grew up thinking smoky air was just part of going out.
- There were health warnings, but they had little effect on the way people behaved.
That smoke haze was not only frustrating it was a health issue that we did not have total control of in those days. My mother would get headaches after dinner at smoky restaurants with the family, but we just ignored it. There were no “no smoking” signs to protect us, and complaining appeared to be of no benefit. The smell hung around on everything your jacket, your hair, even your attitude. It’s a far cry from fresh air today, and really, I’m just thankful we’ve progressed so much.
It began back in the 90s with smoking and non-smoking sections, which, come on, didn’t really do that much the smell still ended up everywhere. And then the real changes began: on February 25th of 1990, smoking on aircraft was prohibited, a miracle for passengers. Restaurants followed, and by the early 2000s, most public places went smoke-free. You can still smell that cigarette smoke in old buildings, a ghostly echo of the 80s, but now’s fresh air is a triumph we don’t take lightly.
2. Discrimination and Racial Profiling
The 80s weren’t so much a golden age of equality. Technically illegal was racism, sexism, or homophobia, but the truth was somewhat more nuanced. Working places and media, and life in general, kept minority groups out of sight, and stereotypes were rife. I recall flipping through magazines at the time nearly everybody looked the same, and diversity wasn’t ever spoken of. It hurts to remember how many people were made invisible or were brutally judged.
- Gay men living with HIV/AIDS were brutally stigmatized and blamed for the epidemic.
- Wage disparities meant that minorities and women earned substantially less than white men.
- Racial profiling was egregious minority hoods evoked suspicion.
- Diversity faces were rarely included in media, solidifying narrowed stereotypes.
- Diversity in the workplace? A myth bigger than reality at the time.
Thank God, life is improved now due to courageous protesters, marches, and voices such as Cyndi Lauper, who leveraged her fame to stand up for change. I remember the colorful Pride marches today and how they honor what used to be shunned. The 80s showed us how much we progressed peaceful marches and greater visibility transformed the world. It is not utopian, but progress is a hug compared to the cold shoulder of yesteryears.
But we’re not finished yet. Discrimination still exists in the workplace, in policing, and on social media. I’ve watched friends experience micro-discrimination that reminds us that the battle rages on. The 80s were a reminder of what happens when prejudice has the opportunity to slip. We’re louder, more diverse, and more knowledgeable now, but we just keep pushing because everyone should have a seat at the table. The road is long, but every step matters.
3. Offending Team Names
In the 80s, the Washington football team’s name “Redskins” was a fact. People cheered with no idea, and the notion that these names were offending anyone didn’t even enter their heads. I recall cheering on games with my dad, chanting together, unaware of the broader effect. It was tradition, not controversy until people began complaining about it. That change turned everything around.
- The “Redskins” name was not interpreted as a slur but simply a team name.
- Native American communities were not broadly approached to discuss the damage.
- Fans rationalized the name as heritage, ignoring its slur beginnings.
- Other teams with similar names worked outside of the spotlight as well.
- Media did not question these names much, which further made them mainstream.
Flash-forward, and anti-racist protests put these names in the spotlight. The struggle over “Redskins” was heated some viewed it as just a name, others as an insultingly perpetual stereotype. I remember friends debating it, caught between tradition and decency. The eventual name change of the team to the Washington Football Team took a brave step, demonstrating that even sacred cows can embrace some change. It wasn’t simple, but it was the right step.
To others, the change was tasteless, as if they’d lost part of their heritage. But to others, it was relief not cheering for something that hurt people anymore. I think of my children now enduring games and wondering why these names were ever there. It’s a sign that progress is about listening, even when it hurts. Sports culture today is finally getting with respect at the loss of old ways.
4. Spanking Children
In the 80s, spanking was parent 101. When you talked back or lied, you could be sure you’d get a slap in the face with a belt or a paddle no harm done, right? I remember jumping out of the way of my mother’s wooden spoon when I talked back. It was such a routine that no one batted an eye, either at home or even at school. In hindsight, it’s absurd to believe that was “discipline.”
- Parents considered spanking an easy way to make kids learn their lesson.
- Schools employed paddles, and children dreaded the principal’s office.
- Public humiliation, such as standing in the corner, was also standard.
- Emotional effects weren’t even on the radar screen obedience was the desired effect.
- Most felt it was normal, not abuse, in the 80s mental frame of mind.
Fortunately, we’ve since learned that we were smarter than that. We now realize that spanking children can result in future aggression or even abuse. I shudder to remember how my cousins all feared “the belt” but never questioned it. Parents these days demand time-outs and discussion, prioritizing empathy over threat. It’s not spoiling it’s raising kids up who feel safe and heard.
At school, paddling is all but forbidden now, and praise the Lord. I can hardly envision a teacher today grabbing a paddle without raising a ruckus. Even “softer” penalties such as corner time are fading away humiliating someone is not the solution. The 80s taught us how not to do it, and parenting today is a softer, smarter approach to take.
5. Absence of Cozy Car Safety
If you ever traveled in a car in the 80s, then there is a high likelihood that you have tales that read like a horror movie today. Children jumping around in the back of a station wagon? No problem at all. No seatbelt? No problem. I recall sprawling across the backseat with my siblings, playing games with Dad driving at 70 mph. It was freedom crazy, dangerous freedom.
- Seatbelts didn’t have to be worn, just a suggestion and not really a requirement.
- Children rode in the “way-back” of wagons, no seatbelts required.
- Child car seats? A luxury and quite likely not even utilized correctly.
- Bedroom floors of pickup trucks were a thrilling ride for 80’s children.
- Awareness of safety was non-existent happiness prevailed over safety.
Then there was the seatbelt lifesaving research, and legislation became serious. My mom buckling me into my car seat after the law took effect still makes me laugh, though; she complained that it was such an inconvenience. Today, it’s autopilot. Children younger than 8 or 4’9″ must ride in child safety seats, and truck bed riding? Illegal and inexcusable. Unbuckled fines are hefty, but they’ve saved a half-million.
In hindsight, I’m amazed we survived those crazy rides. The 80s showed us that safety does not have to be a cliché it’s a lifeline to cling to. I strap on my kids today and feel a surge of thanks for those regulations. We gave up a bit of that spontaneity for something better: the assurance that our loved ones will arrive safely at their destination.
6. Live Animals in Circuses
The 80s circus was magical tigers jumping over flaming hoops, lions roaring at the audience, and elephants strolling about on balls. I was enthralled as a child, cheering wildly with no idea of what happened backstage. Visiting the circus with my family was a luxury, but now I understand those animals had to pay the price for our fun. It’s hard to swallow.
- Elephants were spurred with bullhooks to do tricks.
- Tigers and lions were whipped and held in constricting collars.
- Animals inhabited small cages, removed from natural environments.
- Audiences witnessed spectacle, not backstage suffering.
- Circuses had been a family tradition, unchallenged by most.
Social media revolutionized everything. Videos demonstrating cruelty to animals whips, prods, and worse evoked outrage. I recall viewing a YouTube video that shattered my heart, illustrating an elephant’s terror. Activists campaigned fiercely, and now most circuses do not feature animals at all. Laws differ from state to state, but efforts to outlaw these procedures increase by the day.
It’s bittersweet to rethink those circus trips. My kids love animal-free shows like Cirque du Soleil, and I’m glad they’ll grow up valuing creatures’ well-being. The 80s circus was dazzling, but today’s compassion for animals feels like a brighter kind of magic. We’re learning to entertain without harm, and that’s a win.
7. Lower Drinking Ages
Can you envision in the early 80s some states of America made it legal to purchase alcohol for 18-year-olds? Their reasoning? If you can fight in a war or vote, then why not abeer? I recall my older relatives boasting about the bar nightlife at age 19, all legal then. More odd, children as young as 10 would at times tend bar at home gatherings crazy, right? It was a different time.
- Drinking age dropped to 18 in some states following the Vietnam War.
- Alcohol was served freely at the office scotch in the boardrooms.
- Kids handling alcohol at parties? Adorable, not threatening.
- Social norms blurred lines between child and adult spheres.
- Binge drinking-related traffic deaths became a sobering wake-up call.
By the mid-80s, the dangers were there. Deaths resulting from intoxication increased, and states started raising the drinking age, first to 19, then 21. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 forced all states to have it at 21 by 1988, or lose highway funds. I remember my uncle grumbling about the change, but it did its job. Work drinks? Pretty much a relic these days, and thank God.
Now, to serve a child a sip of wine at a party would be cause for raised eyebrows, and drinking in the workplace is no longer a thing. I consider how my friends and I now celebrate with mocktails during happy hour at the office. The 80s taught us the price of loose rules on booze, and tougher laws have made our roads and our lives safer.
8. Pollution Level
The 80s weren’t so green after all. Factories wheezed, cars consumed gasoline by the gallon, and recycling didn’t even exist. I recall throwing soda cans into the garbage with reckless abandon no one talked about carbon footprints then. The EPA states that pollution decreased whopping since 1980, and how oblivious we were to the capacity of the planet. Factories and vehicles spewed pollutants with little oversight.
- Recycling was unknown trash piles grew up with no concern.
- Air quality was poor; smog was a characteristic of the city.
- Environmental consciousness was low; nature was believed to be omnipotent.
- Lead, ozone, and sulfur dioxide were in the stratosphere.
Luckily, technology and legislation caught up. Cleaner engines, improved fuel, and more stringent standards reduced air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and lead. My first “green” school project in the 90s comes to mind a welcome relief from the 80s! But harm is done: glacial melts, oceans rising, and species threatened remind us of sins of the past. We’re aware of the environment now, but there’s still work to be done.
I am also recycling and conserving my children, something that I never had to do in the 80s. It is wonderful to see electric vehicles and solar panels on every corner. The 80s taught us how to not do it, and the green revolution today is a positive step towards mending the planet. A little does go a long way!
9. $3.35 Federal Minimum Wage (US)
Imagine earning an hour’s wage, a paltry $3.35 enough for a burger, perhaps. That was the minimum wage according to the federal statute in the 80s, stuck there between 1981 and 1990. I recall my very first job as a teenager, excited to make that much for babysitting. It was a pretty penny then but now? You’d just be able to buy a cup of coffee. It’s a sour reminder that things have changed.
- Minimum wage was $3.10 in 1980, increased to $3.35 in 1981.
- Wages lagged behind inflation, and it was tough for employees.
- Families barely managed with so little cash.
- No huge wage increases for almost a decade.
- Adolescents took low-paying jobs without knowing their worth.
By 1990 the wage had crept up to $3.80, still short. Today’s $7.25 (established in 2009) is still debated, with demands for $15 an hour becoming more mainstream. I recall my friend at the department store, worrying about the bills $3.35 would be a joke now. We learned from the 80s wage stagnation that equitable pay matters, and the struggle continues.
In retrospect, I’m surprised anyone made it on $3.35. That’s why I tip so well now workers can too. The 80s economy was a horror, but it reminds us to continue the fight for wages that allow people to live, not merely exist. It’s a long ride, but it’s worth it.
10. Purchasing a Gun Without a Background Check
In the 80s, you could purchase a gun as easily as you purchased groceries you weren’t scanned, no questions asked. I recall my uncle bragging about his new rifle, a spontaneous purchase. It was expected that individuals wouldn’t abuse guns, belief now seeming blind. It was a less complicated system, but far too dangerous.
- No background checks meant that anyone could purchase a gun, no questions asked.
- Gun shops were run with little regulation and records.
- Faith in “good intentions” laid aside thoughts of safety.
- Violent crime laid open the weaknesses of such a system.
- The attempt to assassinate President Reagan in 1981 was the final straw.
1981 President Reagan and James Brady were shot. Everything changed after that. The Brady Act of 1993 implemented the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), criminal and mental health background checks. I remember how my dad was surprised when he had to wait in order to purchase a hunting rifle. It was inconvenient, but it was worth it to keep guns from going to the wrong people.
Now, thank goodness for those checks, imperfect as they are. We learned back in the 80s you couldn’t wish safety comes through action. My children question me about gun control these days, and I explain to them how we learned the hard way. It’s a grim reminder that change is usually based on tragedy.
11. Banning Marijuana
In the 80s, pot was the bad guy a horrible drug with no virtues. I recall school D.A.R.E. lessons, detailing how marijuana would destroy our lives. “Gateway drug” theory was accepted dogma, despite some skepticism about the evidence. While “potheads” said it wasn’t that bad, no one wanted to listen to them. Times have certainly changed!
- Pot was villainized, associated with crime and addiction.
- Drug programs such as D.A.R.E. frightened kids straight.
- Medical marijuana was ignored; punishment became paramount.
- Possession landed people in jail for even small quantities.
- Public fear outweighed any chance of legalization.
Oregon decriminalized cannabis in 1973, and California legalized medical use in 1996, sparking a revolution. By 2012, Washington and Colorado went recreational, and now most states allow some form of use. I’ve seen friends benefit from medical marijuana, a far cry from 80s stigma. Taxes from legal sales fund schools and roads who saw that coming?
The transition feels intimate. I know people who concealed their consumption during the 80s, fearing judgment. Pot stores are as ubiquitous as coffee kiosks now. We learned in the 80s to fight against fear-mongering bills, and the bills now are science-founded and not scare-mongering. We are not there yet, but it is a more green future.
12. Not Removing Your Shoes at the Airport
Security in the 80s was a piece of cake empty your pockets, set your bag on the X-ray, and off you go. I recall racing to gates with impunity, shoes securely on. Removing them? Sci-fi propaganda. It was a free era, but post-2001, all that freedom went out of the window. Security needed to be serious.
- Security screening was rapid, with less inspection.
- Shoes were never taken off; body scans never took place.
- Passengers relaxed, none of them having any idea of hidden danger.
- Airport delays were brief there rarely were delays.
- Everything changed when the shoe bomber struck in 2001.
There was some would-be terrorist in December of 2001 who attempted to detonate a shoe bomb on a plane, and then we were all bare feet in security lines. I complained the first time I was asked to take off my sneakers, but I understand safety first. We’ve got full-body scanners and those hateful V-pose-ups nowadays that are annoying, but needed. My children don’t complain, but I do.
The 80s showed us that liberty costs something. I prefer the precautions that protect us, though I grumble about extensive wait times. Those short 80s airport flights are a happy memory, but I’d rather remove my shoes than be overcome with tragedy. Safety’s the inconvenience.
13. White Majority of Movie and TV Show Characters
Flip on an 80s show such as Cheers or a film such as E.T., and you’d realize something: everyone was white. I’d get so pumped up watching Full House when I was a kid, but not having any diversity didn’t even occur to me back then. Programs like The Cosby Show were exceptions to the rule, bending the conventions. The 80s television landscape wasn’t representative of reality, and that’s something we’re still trying to get right.
- Minority protagonists were the exception on popular TV and movies.
- Non-white characters were stereotyped.
- Audiences were denied multi-ethnic storylines and viewpoints.
- Casting on the Hollywood screen was a limited representation of society.
- The Cosby Show was an historical exception.
The pressure for diversity began, and by 2018, movies such as Black Panther broke through 36.3% of all characters were minorities, compared to the 29.3% in 2017. I cried with my children with Soul, pulled along by its diverse storyline. It’s not the 80s yet but not very far from it. Each new television show with varied casts brings us closer.
I’m not sure how much my daughter values being able to see herself in media now, something I never did have when I was growing up. We learned about exclusion in the 80s, and the emphasis on representation now is filling in the gap. We’re doing more complex storytelling now, and I’m more than comfortable with that.
14. Animal Testing
80s animal testing was the underbelly of flashy make-up advertisements. Rabbits, mice, and even dogs went through suffering for our shampoos and lipsticks. I used to buy mascara as a teenager without realizing the agony involved in producing it. It was “normal” back then but now, reflecting on it, it makes me weep. Those animals deserved so much more.
- Forced feeding, injecting, and causing pain were some of the experiments carried out.
- Mice and rabbits were worst affected, but also primates and dogs.
- Consumers only had the faintest hint of cruelty in their products.
- Companies cared less about animal welfare than profits.
- There was low public awareness; testing was an underlying convention.
Activism and research made all the difference. I viewed a college movie about animal testing and boycotted certain brands. Nowadays, companies such as CoverGirl are cruelty-free, and nations are prohibiting tests in entirety. The United States is transitioning to cell-based testing, which is a step in the right direction. My children use only cruelty-free products, and I’m glad for it.
The 80s taught us to question what’s “normal.” I’m amazed at how far we’ve come, but the fight for animal rights continues. Every cruelty-free purchase feels like a small victory. We’re moving toward a future where no animal suffers for our beauty, and that’s worth celebrating.
Wrapping Up the 80s Time Capsule Wow, what a journey through the 80s! From smoke-filled restaurants to paddle-toting instructors, it’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. I crack up recalling my perm, but I’m thankful we’ve made so much progress safer streets, cleaner air, and a softer world. The 80s provided us with terrific tunes and fashions, but also taught us what not to do. Here’s to learning from the past and creating a better, kinder world. Peace out, 80s style!
