Life had its own set of unwritten rules that everyone seemed to know by heart in the 1950s, which influenced how people behaved with one another during every moment of the day. But times have changed and many of these common-sense rules have faded away—today, they’re hardly even remembered. Here are fifteen common-sense rules that everyone knew in the ‘50s that nobody follows anymore. Perhaps we should bring some of these traditions back.
Featured Image Credit: ArturVerkhovetskiy /Depositphotos.com.
Men Stand When a Woman Enters the Room
Men would always stand up if a woman entered the room because it was a sign of respect—it was just something they did without thinking about it. Standing up was meant to acknowledge the woman’s presence and was also a sign of good manners, although you rarely see anyone do this today. It’s only on very formal occasions or in old movies that men stand up when women enter the room.
Dress Up for Travel
Traveling was a special occasion in the past and people dressed up for it, with men wearing suits & hats, while women wore dresses and heels when boarding planes or trains. It was considered proper to look your best—but comfort is much more important these days. You’re more likely to see travelers in sweatpants, sneakers, and casual wear, which has made the old dress-up tradition a thing of the past.
Wait to Be Excused Before Leaving the Table
You couldn’t just get up and leave the dinner table whenever you wanted in the 1950s because you had to either wait until everyone was done eating or politely ask to be excused. It was a sign of respect for the host and others at the table, even though people are more casual about dining etiquette nowadays. It’s much more common for someone to leave the table without any formalities.
Respect Quiet Hours
People used to be much more mindful of noise levels, especially in the evenings, so they’d keep music & conversations at a reasonable volume to respect their neighbors’ peace and quiet. Loud parties or noisy activities late at night just weren’t something you’d do, although it’s quite a different story in the modern world. Our busier lifestyles and denser cities mean that noise complaints are more common, so people aren’t as considerate about keeping the noise down.
Teach Children to Be Seen and Not Heard
The saying “children should be seen and not heard” was completely normal in the 1950s, with the expectation that kids would stay quiet and behave politely when around adults. This was particularly true in social settings and parents taught their children to be respectful & reserved. Nowadays, parenting approaches have changed, meaning that we encourage children to speak up, share their thoughts and be more expressive.
Wait Until Marriage to Live Together
Couples in the 1950s wouldn’t even dream of moving in together before they were married, as doing so was considered improper—families & society expected couples to marry first. Today, many couples choose to live together before marriage to test if they’re compatible, or simply for financial reasons. Such an old norm has largely faded away and we have much more freedom about when to live with our significant other.
Refrain from Swearing in Public
Using foul language in public was a big mistake in the 1950s and people chose their words carefully, especially around children & strangers, since they saw swearing as offensive. It was also seen as uncouth, although cursing has become more commonplace in everyday conversations these days. You’ll see it in movies, music & even on social media because people are generally less concerned about avoiding it.
Saying Hello to New Neighbors
You’d go around knocking on doors to introduce yourself when you moved into a new neighborhood because getting to know your neighbors was just the friendly thing to do. It helped build a sense of community with the people who lived close by—sadly, we’ve lost a lot of this politeness. Many of us barely know the people living next door and while we might share a quick nod or a hello, the tradition of welcoming new folks has practically disappeared.
Letting Others Pass on the Sidewalk
People used to be much more careful about not blocking the sidewalk, meaning that anytime you stopped to talk or check something out, you’d step aside so others could keep moving. It was just common courtesy to make sure you weren’t in anyone’s way. These days, it’s not unusual to see groups taking up the whole path because they’re so absorbed in their phones or conversations—they barely even notice others trying to get by.
Taking Off Gloves for Handshakes
It was much more common for people to wear gloves in the 1950s, particularly for women—but you’d always remove your gloves first when shaking hands. Doing so was a sign of politeness that made the handshake more personal, although we don’t really follow this rule today. Most people don’t wear gloves every day and that has made handshakes themselves far more casual since we don’t think much about formalities.
Saying “Excuse Me” Instead of “What?”
If you didn’t hear someone back then, you’d say “Pardon me?” or “Excuse me?” because saying “What?” was considered a bit rude—good manners were important in everyday conversations. But we’re likely to just say “What?” today without thinking about it and those more polite responses aren’t things we use very often. Our way of speaking has become more relaxed, for better or worse.
Offering Snacks and Drinks to Visitors
It didn’t matter if someone popped by your house even unexpectedly because, in the 1950s, you had to offer them a drink or a snack, whether that was a cup of tea or some homemade cookies. Being a good host was something people took rather seriously and making guests feel welcome was part of everyday life. These days, we might not think to offer anything when friends stop over and guests don’t really expect it either, as hospitality is less strict.
Sending a Gift to Say Thanks
Likewise, after enjoying someone’s hospitality in the ’50s, like a dinner party or an overnight stay, you’d often send a small gift afterward. It could be something like a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates to show your appreciation—whatever it was, you had to send something. While we still say thank you today, it’s usually just a quick message or a verbal thanks because giving a gift seems a little over the top.
Staircase Etiquette Between Men and Women
There was a time when men followed certain rules on stairs, meaning that if you were going upstairs with a woman, you’d walk behind her—when heading downstairs, you’d go first. Following this rule meant that you were polite and able to offer help if needed, but hardly anyone follows these old customs. We all just use the stairs without thinking about who’s going first or last.
Standing Up Straight Matters
Good posture was all the rage back then, with parents & teachers reminding you to sit up straight and not slouch as a sign of confidence. The slouching we all seem to do today would’ve been frowned upon, even though it’s normal now because everyone’s glued to their screens. We tend to hunch over without noticing and paying attention to posture isn’t as big of a deal as it once was.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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