The ’70s were wild in ways we don’t fully appreciate until we look back and realize just how much women tolerated, survived, or laughed through. It was a decade where people thought shag carpeting and leaded gas were excellent ideas, so you can imagine what daily life looked like for women.
For instance, in the early 1970s, about 31% of U.S. women smoked cigarettes, compared to over 42.3% of men, a CDC analysis shows. Strange, right? It’s weird, it’s nostalgic, and honestly, it’s fun to revisit just how different life was.
Doing all the housework because it was “women’s work”
In many households, chores were neatly divided, and the woman’s section was basically the length of an entire scroll. Cooking, cleaning, grocery runs, laundry—they handled it all because society said that’s just how life worked.
It wasn’t that women agreed; they just didn’t have room to argue yet. Even after doing all that, you’d still hear someone say you had “so much free time.”
Sadly, even today, women’s so-called “choices” about work are still boxed in by all the things they’re expected to handle at home and the lack of real support from policies. Sure, more women are in the workforce than ever, but the chores and mental load didn’t magically split 50/50.
Going to the doctor without being taken seriously
Women often had symptoms brushed off as “nerves” or “stress,” and many were prescribed tranquilizers instead of real treatment.
It was an exhausting dance of insisting that something felt wrong. It’s wild to think how many diagnoses were missed because no one listened.
Accepting being told they couldn’t get specific jobs
Many women were steered into secretary or teaching roles because society assumed those were “appropriate.” Executive roles, engineering, law, or anything technical were usually dismissed for them.
The EEOC documented that gender-based job ads were still standard until the mid-1970s. It wasn’t ability holding women back—it was the hiring manager’s imagination. It makes modern job searches feel like a luxury.
Also on MSN: 16 Popular ’70s Trends That Didn’t Stand the Test of Time
Hosting dinner parties like it was a competitive sport
Women in the ’70s pulled off elaborate dinner spreads without Pinterest, recipe videos, or air fryers. You’d walk into someone’s house and immediately be greeted by a table covered in Jell-O salads and dishes with ingredients you can’t quite identify.
My aunt still has a recipe card labeled “party shrimp loaf,” and no one has dared to recreate it. Entertaining was practically a badge of honor. You were expected to smile through it, even if the oven misbehaved.
Riding in cars without seatbelts
Most women didn’t think twice about hopping into a car and just… sitting there, completely unsecured. It wasn’t unusual for someone to slide across a vinyl bench seat every time the vehicle turned. The national seatbelt usage rate didn’t pass 14 percent until the mid-1980s, according to the NHTSA.
Looking back, it feels surreal that anyone survived childhood road trips. If you’ve ever asked yourself why older relatives instinctively put an arm across your chest when stopping, that’s the muscle memory talking.
Buying life insurance that costs more simply because they were women
Women were charged higher premiums because insurance companies claimed they were “riskier” applicants. Some couldn’t even buy policies without a husband’s signature.
A 1976 congressional report found widespread gender-based disparities across insurance industries. It wasn’t subtle, either. Most women didn’t even find out about the unequal pricing until someone whispered it to them.
Smoking almost everywhere without anyone blinking
Seeing someone light up in a doctor’s office waiting room screams straight ’70s vibes. Cigarette ads often targeted women with “slim” or “elegant” branding, and it worked. There were 1 million more female smokers by 1987 than in 1974, according to data.
Restaurants, buses, malls, and even airplanes were clouded with smoke. It was normal to come home smelling like an ashtray even if you didn’t smoke. Sometimes I wonder how any of us developed lungs at all.
Using sun reflectors to get the deepest tan possible
Bronzed skin was the beauty ideal, and women chased it with foil reflectors and baby oil. Sunscreen existed, but SPF 4 wasn’t exactly protective. Tanning beds became trendy later in the decade, adding to the obsession.
The irony is that dermatologists now warn that one blistering sunburn in youth doubles the risk of melanoma. The ’70s taught a whole generation how not to care about UV rays.
Letting men make the big decisions because that was the “norm”
Many women were expected to step aside and let men decide on finances, major purchases, or long-term plans. Not because they wanted to, but because society wired things that way. Most Americans believed husbands should have the final say in household decisions.
Wearing platform shoes that defied basic physics
Women strutted around in towering platforms that could have doubled as stepstools. Walking in them looked more like a slow negotiation with gravity. They became a defining fashion statement of the 1970s, worn by celebrities like Elton John and David Bowie, and symbolized bold self‑expression.
By 1977, platform shoes reached peak popularity, with some soles rising above 4 inches. If you’ve ever seen a vintage pair in a thrift shop, you know they weigh more than today’s ankle weights.
Calling friends from a phone attached to the wall
If you needed to talk privately, you stretched the cord across the room and closed a door on it. Women spent entire afternoons pacing in a small circle while chatting with friends or planning dinners.
The average phone cord in the ’70s stretched up to 25 feet, which somehow never felt long enough. Wasn’t it funny how patient everyone seemed back then? No texting, no call waiting, no caller ID—just a ringing phone and hope.
Wearing polyester outfits that didn’t breathe at all
Polyester reigned supreme, and people wore it proudly even if it felt like wearing a warm plastic bag. Designers loved the fabric because it didn’t wrinkle, but wearing it in summer was its own endurance test.
Women powered through, though. They just layered deodorant and hoped for the best.
Key takeaways
Life for women in the ’70s looked very different, and many of the expectations placed on them now feel unbelievable. The lifestyle, the rules, and the social norms show how much progress has unfolded in just a few decades.
Looking back helps us appreciate how far women have come in autonomy, safety, and opportunity. Revisiting these moments also reminds us how important it is to keep pushing for better.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
10 Fictional Relationships Women Confess To Investing Too Much Real Time In
10 Fictional Relationships Women Confess To Investing Too Much Real Time In
Have you ever talked about a fictional character as though they were real? Of course, you have. After all, a well-written book, movie, or TV show creates people who do seem real. We read/watch them, root for them, laugh with them, cry with them, and, sometimes, fear for them. For example, fans of The Walking Dead created memes, T-shirts, and even yard signs that promised, “If Darryl dies, we riot!” Sometimes we’re so wrapped up in a character’s story that we forget they aren’t real.
The 15 Things Women Only Do With the Men They Love
The 15 Things Women Only Do With the Men They Love
Love is a complex, beautiful emotion that inspires profound behaviors. We express our love in various ways, some universal and others unique to each individual. Among these expressions, there are specific actions women often reserve for the men they deeply love
