Being a father in 1970s America meant following a whole set of completely different rules, and some of those exact habits would get you some strange looks if you did them today.
The diaper rule
Nobody wants to be the one changing diapers, but during the 1970s, a lot of fathers didn’t have to. Yes, looking after a baby was seen as a woman’s job, meaning that Mom was expected to change a baby’s diaper.
Some fathers didn’t even bother to learn how to do that. They’d simply hold the baby and make funny faces, but as soon as there was a funny smell, the baby went straight back to Mom. The majority of mothers wouldn’t allow fathers to behave that way today.
The front-seat passenger
Car seats weren’t as big of a thing during the 1970s as they are today. In fact, it wasn’t unheard of for a dad to allow his child to sit on his lap while he drove. It was as dangerous as it sounds. Some kids would even get to hold the steering wheel while their father was driving.
It’s mostly because car safety wasn’t seen in the same way as it is today, and only around 15% of children aged four and younger were using restraints in 1979. Doing the same thing today would be considered a major safety violation, however.
The hospital waiting room
You’d think that fathers would want to be in the delivery room when their wives or girlfriends gave birth. But no. Turns out, a lot of them actually spent their time at the hospital sitting in a designated waiting area, as they weren’t allowed to go into the delivery room.
It took until the late 1970s for things to really change. Men could initially stay during labor, but then had to leave for the actual birth. The idea of a father not being there to witness the miracle of life seems kind of laughable today.
The neighborhood watering hole
A father’s decision to go on a trip to the local bar could easily become something of a family outing. That’s because fathers would sometimes bring the kids along while they enjoyed a beer. The kids would sit nearby, and the fathers would catch up with friends. It was totally normal.
Not anymore, though, as there are very strict rules today on children entering bars. You’re unlikely to find many places allowing children to be in areas like that. That sense of family community in a tavern doesn’t really exist.
The backyard target practice
BB guns have always been popular gifts for kids, even today. The difference is that many fathers in the 1970s would be hands-off and allow their children to use their BB guns without a lot of supervision. The kids were taught the basics, and that was it.
Most fathers didn’t treat BB guns like dangerous weapons, even though they absolutely were weapons and could cause some serious injuries. Things have changed now, though. Fathers might still give their kids BB guns, but they’re going to be a lot more mindful with them.
The weekend arrangement
The arrival of the weekend meant one thing and one thing only. Dad finally had two days off work. But those free days didn’t necessarily mean Mom was about to get a break, as many men in the 1970s left their wives to handle the children all weekend.
That’s right, she’d be the one making breakfast and entertaining the children. Dad was fine to go off and do his own thing because, well, he’d earned it. Most parents would see this sort of behavior as neglect today, and we expect Dad to chip in as much as Mom.
The playground disagreement
Bullies have always existed. But during the 1970s, if you were getting picked on at school, it was very likely that your father would tell you to simply fight back. There was no need to explain the problem, and definitely no reason to ask the teacher for help.
You were just supposed to put your fists up. In those days, fathers saw it as a lesson in standing up for yourself, although it’s quite a different story today. The majority of modern-day fathers would encourage their children to find a solution that doesn’t involve fists.
The Saturday chore list
Whenever the lawn needed mowing and the dishes needed washing, fathers would often divide the jobs between the children. Yet this division wasn’t always equal. In the 1970s, it was perfectly acceptable for a father to give their sons outdoor chores and their daughters homemaking chores.
That was how things worked back then. Boys and girls were expected to learn different household skills. You wouldn’t find many fathers doing that today because we understand that this kind of division isn’t fair or right. Kids also aren’t expected to do as many chores these days.
The final word
There was no need for a family meeting whenever a big decision needed making. That’s because the father was the head of the household in the 1970s, and that meant he could make all the big decisions himself. He never needed to consult anyone else.
Perhaps he’d decide that everyone was moving to another state after he’d accepted a new job, and that was that. His wife would have an opinion, sure, but it was the father who had the final say in the matter. Today, we’re far less likely to see Dad as the unquestioned authority.
The midnight routine
Quite a few mothers didn’t get the privilege of a full night’s sleep in the 1970s, and that’s because they had to handle all the nighttime feedings. Men weren’t really expected to help out. No, fathers had to get up for work in the morning, so they were given a free pass to sleep through.
It didn’t even matter when a baby was bottle-fed. A lot of fathers couldn’t understand why they should have to get out of bed, so they’d leave their wives to prepare bottles and get the baby back to sleep. We expect a lot more from fathers in the modern world.
The reluctant athlete
Little League was a childhood tradition for almost every American boy during the 1970s, and many fathers expected their sons to participate. They didn’t care whether the boy liked the sport. Fathers would often force their sons to play sports because that’s how things worked.
A lot of them weren’t trying to be mean. They genuinely believed doing sports would make their sons tougher and more competitive, so they encouraged their sons to keep doing it. Today, however, many pediatricians recommend allowing children to choose sports they actually enjoy. It stops them from seeing sports as a chore and makes it more like something fun.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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