It’s strange to think about how many normal parts of American life have become so divisive. Some of these used to be completely ordinary. That is, until rules or cultural movements completely changed things. Here are 17 things that used to be common but are now controversial. Which of these do you think is the most divisive?
Tipping at Restaurants
The rules for tipping were once rather simple. Leave 15–20% for the server. That’s all. But now, tip prompts show up for practically everything, whether that’s from someone pouring coffee or ringing up a sandwich. Some people tip more than ever, while others tip less. A few restaurants have scrapped tipping altogether in favor of higher menu prices. The argument over whether or not to tip, as well as which jobs “deserve” a tip, has become more divisive than ever.
School-Led Prayer and Bible Readings
Until the 1960s, morning prayers and Bible verses were standard in many public schools. But then came two Supreme Court decisions, which were Engel v. Vitale in 1962 and Abington v. Schempp in 1963. These cases completely banned such practices. Of course, student-led prayer is still allowed under certain circumstances. Yet the days of a teacher leading the whole class are over.
Posting Bible Verses in Public School Classrooms
But that’s not all for religion in the class. During the 1950s and ’60s, it was normal to see a framed Bible verse in a public school classroom, and this was especially true in smaller towns. However, court rulings and district policies have since removed most of them. There are still a few communities fighting to bring religion back to the classroom. As you can probably imagine, it’s quite a divisive issue.
Corporal Punishment by Police or Public Humiliation as Discipline
Anytime that someone did something illegal in the past, they might get a public beating from a police baton. They might even be made to stand in the middle of town with a sign that said “shame.” Today, such a punishment sounds rather extreme, but many small communities treated it as normal discipline. We’d probably argue that it crosses the line into human rights abuse instead.
Doctors Endorsing Cigarettes and Sugary Drinks
The majority of ads from the 1950s featured smiling doctors recommending a cigarette brand or praising a sugary soda as a “pick-me-up.” Yeah, really. That kind of marketing would get anyone with a medical license in some serious trouble today. Health boards now ban doctors from promoting anything that is known to be harmful. The rules are strict, and the punishments for breaking them? Even stricter.
Publicly Shaming Students for Poor Grades or Behavior
Not too long ago, kids who made a mistake in class would have their names scrawled on the board, or they might be told to stand in a corner. Some teachers would even march them to the hallway as an example for the rest of the class, which was seen as a kind of “discipline.” Today, most schools try to keep consequences private. We understand that giving kids lasting embarrassment doesn’t help them at all.
Wearing Fur as a Fashion Statement
Most 1960s Hollywood premieres featured stars in gleaming mink coats and fox collars, as well as full-length sable wraps. Wearing real fur was once a sign of extreme luxury. Now, it’s more likely to lead to protests than applause, with many big fashion brands having dropped fur entirely. Stores that still sell it sometimes deal with activists at their doors. People’s general attitude towards fur and animal rights has changed.
Medical Treatments Without Consent
There was a time when doctors didn’t need to spell out every detail or even ask before performing a major procedure. Instead, people just trusted that medical professionals knew best and allowed them to do as they pleased. Patients often woke up to find surgery had been done for their own good. But modern medical laws now require detailed explanations. Patients, or their next of kin, must sign off before almost anything happens.
Posting Children’s Photos Online
When Facebook first came around, people posted endless albums of their kids at birthday parties or during bath time. It was seen as a kind of public scrapbook. But fast-forward, and the term “sharenting” has emerged, with critics worrying about privacy and strangers downloading images. There’s also the issue of kids having no say about their online presence. Some parents now keep family photos completely offline to protect their little ones.
Hitchhiking as a Common Travel Option
Yes, hitchhiking still happens, but it’s not like in the past. Back then, you could stick out your thumb on the side of the road and expect a friendly driver to stop. It was something almost everyone did, whether they were soldiers, students, or travelers. It’s much rarer now, though. Safety fears and true-crime headlines have changed people’s attitudes towards this once-common travel choice. State laws have also made hitchhiking harder to do legally.
Kids Walking to School Alone
Kids as young as six walked themselves to school a few decades ago, and nobody even thought twice about that. It’s not the same anymore. Nowadays, letting a child walk unsupervised could lead to police showing up or even a child services investigation because we better understand the dangers behind it. In some states, there are “free-range parenting” laws that protect this. Still, allowing your kids to walk to school alone remains a heated topic.
Gender-Segregated Bathrooms
For most of modern history, public restrooms had one sign for men and one for women. Nobody questioned that. However, in recent years, gender identity debates have led some businesses and schools to decide to add all-gender restrooms. Other places have resisted. Either way, this change has turned bathroom policies into a very public, and often very local, fight.
Letting Teenagers Babysit Young Kids
A 13-year-old babysitting a toddler for the night in the 1980s was more than simply normal. It was practically a rite of passage. Today, many parents want older sitters with CPR training or childcare certification, and they’re less likely to hire just anybody to do the job. Some states don’t set a minimum age at all, while others have laws about how old children must be for you to leave them at home.
Spanking as Discipline at Home
Spanking used to be seen as simply part of how parents handled misbehavior, and it’s still legal for parents in every U.S. state. But it’s a lot less common than it once was. Pediatric groups and parenting experts have spoken publicly about the consequences of punishing your children in this way. Even extended family members often disagree on whether it’s harmless or something to avoid altogether.
Saying “Merry Christmas” in Public Spaces
In the past, you could walk into nearly any store in December and see “Merry Christmas” signs everywhere. It was just part of how we celebrated the festive season. These days, many businesses stick to “Happy Holidays” to include everyone, and some people love the broader greeting. Others, though, feel like it erases tradition. The yearly debate of the ‘right’ thing to say shows no signs of slowing down.
Confederate Statues in Public Spaces
Lots of Southern towns have statues honoring Confederate figures, which have stood for over a century with barely a mention. But the political climate in recent years has changed that. Protests have led to the removal of these statues in some places, while others have passed laws to protect them. No matter your opinion, these statues are rather controversial.
Classroom Lessons on Race and History
Lessons about slavery and segregation, as well as civil rights, used to happen in classrooms without much public dispute. But lately, school boards have had to deal with arguments about how these topics are taught. A few states have passed laws limiting certain lessons, such as those about Critical Race Theory. Others are pushing for more focused coverage on these issues. Either way, teachers are often caught in the middle.
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