10 Laws from the ’50s and ’60s That Would Be Unbelievable Today
Some laws from the ’50s and ’60s sound more like bad jokes today—but they were very real.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 3 min read
The 1950s and 1960s were filled with rules that would never fly now. From dress codes to who you could marry, the laws were often shockingly strict or deeply unfair. Looking back, it’s wild what was once considered “normal.”
1. Segregation Was Legal
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In many states, separating people by race in schools, buses, restaurants, and even drinking fountains was completely legal. “Whites Only” signs weren’t just social—they were backed by law. It wasn’t until 1964 that the Civil Rights Act made segregation illegal nationwide. The fact that this was normal less than 70 years ago is mind-blowing.
2. Interracial Marriage Was Banned
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Before 1967, it was illegal in many states for people of different races to marry. That all changed with the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court case, which struck those bans down. Yes, it was literally called “anti-miscegenation.” Love was a crime if it didn’t fit the rules.
3. Women Couldn’t Get a Credit Card Without a Husband
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Until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, banks could (and did) refuse to issue women credit cards unless a man co-signed. In the ’50s and ’60s, a single woman trying to build credit would be impossible. The law didn’t see women as financially trustworthy on their own. It wasn’t about money—it was about control.
4. Being LGBTQIA+ Was Criminalized
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Homosexuality was considered a crime in almost every state. People could be arrested, fired, or institutionalized just for being gay. Some laws even labeled it as a mental illness. Pride didn’t start with rainbows—it started with a riot.
5. Schools Could Force Religion
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Before Engel v. Vitale (1962), public schools could make students recite prayers, even if they weren’t religious. The line between church and state was pretty blurry. The Supreme Court finally stepped in and said nope. Now, it’s hard to imagine public schools handing out prayer cards.
6. Husbands Could Legally Rape Their Wives
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Marital rape wasn’t considered a crime in most states because a wife was seen as “property.” The law assumed consent was permanent once you were married. Some states didn’t criminalize it until the 1990s. It is unthinkable today but real back then.
7. Dress Codes Targeted Women and Girls
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Girls were required to wear dresses to school—no pants allowed. Even in freezing weather, pants were “unfeminine.” Some schools punished girls for wearing jeans or shorts, no matter how practical. Today’s dress code debates feel tame in comparison.
8. People Were Jailed for Not Standing for the Flag
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Refusing to salute the flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance could actually get you in trouble. In some places, you could even be expelled from school. It wasn’t until a 1943 ruling (finally enforced more in the ’50s) that students had the right to opt out. Freedom of speech had to fight hard for a seat.
9. Birth Control Was Illegal for Unmarried Women
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In many states, it was illegal for single women to access birth control until the Eisenstadt v. Baird decision in 1972. Even married women had limited access before Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965. Doctors could refuse to prescribe it. Your body, but not your choice.
10. Job Ads Were Separated by Gender
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Want a job? In the newspaper, you had to check “Help Wanted—Male” or “Help Wanted—Female.” Jobs for men were higher-paying and career-focused. Women’s ads were often for secretaries, nurses, or receptionists. It wasn’t just sexist; it was legal until the Civil Rights Act stepped in.