Back in the day, these etiquette rules were taken seriously, but now they just seem downright silly.
Teen life in the ‘60s came with a rulebook, and breaking the “proper” etiquette could get you side-eyed by adults in an instant. Growing up back then meant following a long list of social expectations that, looking back, seem more than a little ridiculous.
Boomers were taught to behave a certain way, dress a certain way, and even speak a certain way—all in the name of good manners. Some of these rules are so outdated, they’re almost laughable now.
1. Girls had to wear skirts or dresses to school—pants were a no-go.
Back in the ‘60s, most schools had strict dress codes that banned girls from wearing pants, no matter how cold it was. Forget about comfort—skirts and dresses were the only acceptable options. If a girl showed up in slacks, she’d likely be sent home to change. It wasn’t just about looking “proper”—society had firm ideas about how young ladies should present themselves. Thankfully, times have changed, and now comfort and practicality actually matter.
2. Boys had to open doors for girls or risk looking rude.
It wasn’t just a nice gesture—it was an expectation. A boy who failed to hold the door for a girl could be scolded for being impolite or inconsiderate. It didn’t matter if she was perfectly capable of opening it herself. These old-fashioned gender roles were drilled into kids at a young age, reinforcing the idea that girls needed looking after. While good manners never go out of style, strict etiquette like this feels pretty outdated today.
3. You had to answer the phone with a super formal greeting.
No “Hey, what’s up?” or quick “Hello?”—phone etiquette was practically an art form. Kids were expected to pick up the phone with a polite, well-rehearsed greeting like, “Smith residence, this is Susan speaking.” Anything less was considered sloppy. And heaven forbid you call someone and just ask for your friend—you had to ask for “Mr. or Mrs. So-and-So” first. Today, most people barely answer their phones at all, let alone follow an old-school script.
4. You were expected to shake hands with a firm grip—or risk seeming weak.
A limp handshake? Absolutely unacceptable. Boys, in particular, were taught that a firm grip was a sign of confidence and strength. If your handshake was too weak, people might think you lacked character. This tiny social test determined if you were “respectable” in the eyes of adults. Nowadays, people are just as likely to greet each other with a wave, a nod, or even a fist bump. And after the pandemic, handshakes aren’t nearly as important as they used to be.
5. You had to send thank-you notes for every gift, no matter how small.
Getting a birthday or Christmas present? That meant sitting down with a pen and paper and writing out a formal thank-you note. Parents drilled it into kids that failing to send one was flat-out rude. It didn’t matter if you said thank you in person—the note was non-negotiable. Some kids even had to mail notes for small gestures, like a neighbor bringing over cookies. Today, a quick text or call is enough, but back then, it was a whole production.
6. Girls had to wait for boys to ask them out—anything else was desperate.
A girl who made the first move? That was considered scandalous. If she liked a boy, she had to drop hints and hope he took the bait. Actually asking him out would make her look “too forward” or “boy crazy.” This ridiculous double standard left plenty of girls waiting around for dates that never happened. Thankfully, dating rules have loosened up, and women are free to take charge of their own romantic lives without judgment.
7. Chewing gum in public was considered tacky and rude.
Popping a piece of gum in your mouth might not seem like a big deal today, but in the ‘60s, it was a different story. Teachers, parents, and even strangers would scold kids for chewing gum in public, claiming it was unladylike or just plain bad manners. Heaven forbid you chew with your mouth open! Many schools outright banned it, treating it like a serious offense. These days, nobody bats an eye at someone chewing gum—unless they’re smacking it obnoxiously.
8. You had to stand up when an adult entered the room.
Respect for elders was drilled into kids, and one of the biggest signs of it was immediately standing up when an adult walked into a room. It didn’t matter if you were comfortable or in the middle of something—staying seated was seen as lazy and disrespectful. While respect is still important, today’s kids aren’t expected to jump to their feet every time a teacher or grandparent walks in. Some of these old-school customs were more about appearances than actual courtesy.
9. You weren’t allowed to call an adult by their first name—ever.
No matter how close you were to a family friend or neighbor, calling them by their first name was off-limits. It was always “Mr. Johnson” or “Mrs. Miller”—no exceptions. Even into adulthood, many people struggled to switch to first names with authority figures. While formal titles still exist in certain settings, today’s society is much more relaxed. Plenty of adults prefer being called by their first name, and younger generations don’t feel the same pressure to stick to rigid formalities.
10. Girls had to sit with their legs crossed at all times.
“Sit like a lady” was a phrase girls heard constantly growing up. Sitting with your legs apart, even slightly, was considered improper and unladylike. Schools, parents, and etiquette books pushed this rule relentlessly, making girls hyperaware of how they were sitting. While good posture is great, forcing girls to sit a certain way based on outdated ideas of femininity feels pretty absurd now. Thankfully, today’s women can sit however they please—comfort matters more than appearances.
11. Boys had to walk on the outside of the sidewalk to “protect” girls.
This old-school etiquette rule dates back centuries, but it was still taught to boys in the ‘60s. The idea was that a gentleman should always walk closest to the street to shield a lady from passing cars, puddles, or—historically—horse-drawn carriages splashing mud. While it may have been a sweet gesture, it was based on the assumption that women needed constant protection. Today, most people just walk wherever they want without overthinking sidewalk positions.
12. Writing in cursive was a must—print was for little kids.
In school, kids were expected to write in beautiful, flowing cursive by a certain age. Printing was seen as childish, and teachers would mark down assignments if they weren’t written in script. Many adults feared kids wouldn’t be taken seriously if they didn’t master cursive. Fast forward to today, and cursive has almost disappeared. Some schools don’t even teach it anymore, and most people type everything anyway. Boomers were forced to perfect a skill that barely gets used now.
13. Good girls never spoke up or challenged authority.
Questioning teachers, parents, or other adults? That wasn’t just frowned upon—it was considered outright disrespectful. Girls, in particular, were expected to be agreeable, soft-spoken, and never argue. Even if they disagreed, they were supposed to keep their thoughts to themselves. But times have changed, and speaking up is now encouraged. Today’s generation values independent thinking, and staying quiet to “be polite” is no longer seen as the best way to earn respect.