Society’s idea of what is acceptable has changed dramatically over time. Practices once defended as tradition, written into law, or treated as everyday life can be hard to understand today.
Some caused enormous physical harm, while others denied people basic rights or freedom simply because of their race, gender, age, health, or financial circumstances.
These 7 practices show just how different life could be when customs and laws allowed things that many people today would find horrifying.
Corporal Punishment in Schools
In many places, being struck with a paddle, cane, ruler, or other object was once considered ordinary school discipline. Practices that could leave children bruised or humiliated were often treated as acceptable punishment for misbehavior that today might result in detention, loss of privileges, or other disciplinary measures.
Foot Binding in China
For centuries in China, some young girls’ feet were tightly bound to prevent normal growth because extremely small feet were associated with beauty and social status. The painful process permanently altered the bones and shape of the feet, often leaving women with lifelong difficulty walking.
Witch Hunts
During the 16th and 17th centuries, accusations of witchcraft could result in imprisonment, torture, or death, sometimes based on little more than rumors, superstition, or personal disputes. Thousands of people were caught up in witch hunts across Europe and parts of North America, with women making up a large share of those accused.
Racial Segregation
Racial segregation was once enforced through laws and accepted practices that determined where people could live, attend school, eat, travel, and use public facilities based on race.
The idea that separate schools, restaurants, transportation, neighborhoods, and even drinking fountains could be legally mandated is now recognized as a profound denial of civil and human rights.
Child Labor
Children once routinely spent long days working in factories, mines, mills, farms, and other dangerous workplaces instead of attending school. Industrialization made child labor especially visible, with young workers performing physically demanding jobs for low wages and often with few protections from injury or exploitation.
Animal Testing for Cosmetics
Animals were routinely used to test cosmetics and personal-care products, including experiments designed to determine whether ingredients could irritate the skin or eyes.
Growing concern about animal welfare has led many companies to adopt alternative testing methods, while some governments have restricted or prohibited certain forms of cosmetic animal testing.
Mandatory Retirement
Reaching a particular birthday once meant some workers could be forced to leave their jobs even if they remained capable and wanted to continue working.
Age-discrimination protections have since challenged or prohibited many mandatory-retirement policies, making automatic removal from a job solely because of age far less acceptable than it once was.
