People seem to always pine for the “good old days.” And, sure, there is plenty to complain about today, but America in 2015 is far more tolerant, compassionate, and evolved than at any time in U.S. History — or maybe even human history.
When I was growing up in the 1960’s . . .
Cohabitation was scandalous;
A female who had sex before marriage was a “slut” (but the same was not true for a male – after all, he was just being a guy);
A female who had sex before marriage was a “slut” (but the same was not true for a male – after all, he was just being a guy);
Children born out of wedlock were referred to as “bastards” and were shunned by society through no fault of their own;
Interracial marriage was against the law in most states. An interracial couple could be arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison for the mere “crime” of falling in love and getting married;
Bi-racial children were shunned, too;
Bi-racial children were shunned, too;
Interfaith marriage was considered an abomination – couples who married outside of their faith were often excommunicated from their church and disowned by their families;
Gay marriage was not even something people could dream about. Sodomy laws were in place in every state, making homosexuality illegal. And those laws were used to prosecute gays. “Coming out of the closet” meant risking becoming the victim of societal abuse, both legal and physical;
Divorce was not just frowned-upon – the law made it almost impossible to get out of a bad marriage. It was not enough to show that the parties were no longer in love or that they found it impossible to live together. To obtain a legal divorce required a husband or wife to prove sufficient “grounds,” such as abandonment, abuse, or infidelity. Women often came away from divorce impoverished, regardless of the lifestyle they enjoyed during the marriage. And to be a divorced person, or a child of divorce, was seen as a public embarrassment;
Mothers were almost always awarded sole custody of the children by the divorce court. And regardless of how active and involved a father might have been in his children’s lives – he was given only “visitation”;
Mothers were almost always awarded sole custody of the children by the divorce court. And regardless of how active and involved a father might have been in his children’s lives – he was given only “visitation”;
Domestic violence was rampant, as it is today. But, back then, it was considered a parent’s right to keep his or her children in line by the use of corporal punishment, however severe. And if a man chose to abuse his wife it was viewed as a family matter, and nobody else’s business;
Women had few employment opportunities. “A Woman’s Place is in the Home” was not just a saying – societal rules were built to make sure that women remained economically helpless and subservient. Universities had quotas for women and many jobs were off-limits, including executive-level positions in banks and corporations. Women, no matter how capable and intelligent, were offered employment mainly as factory workers, teachers, administrators, or secretaries. There was no “glass-ceiling” for women — instead, the ceiling was made of concrete. So were the walls. To break through those barriers took a herculean effort;
For a father to stay at home and take care of the children was unheard of — it was not considered “manly.” Fathers were locked into the role of “Provider.” And being the sole source of income for the family was a responsibility that left little time for dads to be loving, nurturing parents to their children.
For a father to stay at home and take care of the children was unheard of — it was not considered “manly.” Fathers were locked into the role of “Provider.” And being the sole source of income for the family was a responsibility that left little time for dads to be loving, nurturing parents to their children.
Looking back on the “idyllic days “of the past is a fantasy. The “good old days” weren’t really so good. In fact, in many ways, life has never been better than it is right now.
Want to know the truth? These are the “good old days.”
Gary J. Frank is an attorney and mediator with over thirty years of Family Law experience in dealing in divorce, custody, and parenting issues. For many years he acted as a Judge Pro Tempore in the Maricopa County Superior Court, which gave him an insight into the inner workings of the courts that many attorneys lack. In addition to representing Family Law clients in litigation, we are also willing to help people by working with them on a Limited-Scope or Consultation-Only basis. Our office is located in the Biltmore area of central Phoenix, with satellite offices in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, Arizona. We can be reached by telephone (602-383-3610); or by email at [email protected] You can also reach us through our website at www.garyfranklaw.com. If you are in need of a consultation regarding any area of Family Law, contact us today. We’d be happy to help.