15 Cultural Norms from the Past That Would Be Offensive Today
This listicle highlights 15 cultural practices from history that were once accepted but are now considered offensive.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
This slideshow explores 15 outdated habits and customs that people once embraced but today find objectionable. Each slide describes a different practice, explaining its historical context and why modern perspectives reject it. The goal is to show how quickly norms can change and emphasize the importance of questioning traditions.
1. Dueling to settle disputes
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Duels were viewed as a noble means of resolving conflicts and upholding honor. Today, they are viewed as violent, illegal, and reckless.
2. Banning Indigenous dances
Akshay Anil on Pexels
Reformers once banned Indigenous ceremonial dances, labeling them immoral. Today, such bans are recognized as a form of cultural oppression.
3. Mocking Native cultures
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Caricatures and demeaning portrayals of Indigenous peoples were common. Now, they are understood as harmful stereotypes and disrespectful.
4. Legal Segregation
Toni Frissell on Wikimedia Commons
Segregation laws, such as Black Codes, were once legal and socially accepted. Today, they are condemned as blatant injustice.
5. Mocking women’s suffrage
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Early feminists were ridiculed in cartoons and posters. Modern standards classify these portrayals as sexist and demeaning.
6. Insulting Assertive Women
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Women who spoke up were called unfeminine or aggressive. This reflects outdated gender bias that is unacceptable today.
7. Tipping was taboo
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In some Western societies, tipping was once seen as unrefined or even undemocratic. Today, tipping is widely accepted, though attitudes still vary globally.
8. Treating servants like property
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Domestic workers were often treated as property rather than people. Modern ethics recognize the injustice of such treatment.
9. Cultural Costumes as Entertainment
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It was once common to use sacred cultural garb for parties or parades. Today, this would be called disrespectful cultural appropriation.
10. Blackface Entertainment
Otis Lithograph Co.; Al G. Field Minstrels. on Wikimedia Commons
Blackface performances were once mainstream entertainment. Today, they are recognized as racist and deeply offensive.
11. Strict Tipping Etiquette
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Tipping your hat or refusing service politely was once a rigid social norm. Modern behavior often sees these gestures as overly formal or outdated.
12. Boys in Dresses
Fylkesarkivet i Sogn og Fjordane on Wikimedia Commons
Victorian boys wore gowns until a certain age as a symbol of childhood. Modern ideas around gendered clothing have changed dramatically.
13. Tipping Your Hat in Public
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Tipping one’s hat was a common sign of respect. Today, this gesture feels antiquated and tied to class distinctions.
14. Declining Gifts as Polite
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Refusing gifts initially was a sign of humility and courtesy. Today, acceptance is often seen as warmer and more inclusive.
15. Public Spitting
Pduive23 on Wikimedia Commons
Spitting in public was once common and socially acceptable. Today, it is widely regarded as unhygienic and disrespectful.