14 Things Nevadan Men Weren’t Allowed to do 100+ Years Ago

Imagine hopping in a time machine and heading back to the 1920s. You walk around as a modern man from Nevada, just doing your thing, and suddenly people are staring at you like you’ve lost your mind.

That’s because 100+ years ago, there were a ton of things that men weren’t allowed to do from a legal or societal perspective.

Whether it was about fashion, feelings, or family roles, these are some of the strict rules that governed men a century or more ago.

Wear Shorts in Public

Back in the 1920s, most American men couldn’t just throw on a pair of shorts and walk around town. It wasn’t considered proper or respectful.

Shorts were mostly for boys or athletes, not for grown men doing errands or meeting friends. If a man wore shorts outside his house, people would have stared.

In fact, wearing shorts in public was sometimes seen as downright scandalous. Cities and towns had unofficial rules about “proper” clothing, and showing too much leg wasn’t part of it for men.

Shorts were often linked to being childish or lazy. So, most men just stuck with long trousers, even in the middle of summer.

It wasn’t until the 1940s and 1950s that wearing shorts slowly became okay in some parts of the country. But 100 years ago, if a man stepped out in shorts, he might’ve been told to go home and change.

Stay Home and Raise the Kids

A hundred years ago, the idea of a man staying home to take care of the kids was almost unheard of.

Society expected men to be the breadwinners and women to stay home. If a man wanted to be a stay-at-home dad, people would think something was wrong with him—or his family.

Even if a father wanted to be more involved at home, he usually wasn’t allowed to take time off work for parenting. There were no paternity leave laws, and most workplaces didn’t care if a man had a newborn at home.

It was assumed that caring for babies, cooking, and cleaning were all the mother’s job.

These old-fashioned rules made life harder for families who wanted to do things differently. A man pushing a stroller in the park would definitely have gotten some side-eye in 1925.

Show Too Much Emotion

In the 1920s, American men were expected to be tough, serious, and quiet about their feelings. Crying or talking about their emotions was seen as weak.

If a man showed sadness or fear, people might say he wasn’t “manly” enough. That kind of thinking was everywhere—in books, in movies, and even at work.

This pressure to always be strong kept a lot of men from opening up. They were told to “man up” or “get over it” instead of being supported when they felt down. The idea was that emotions belonged to women, and men just had to push through life without showing much on the outside.

Because of that, a lot of guys bottled up their feelings and dealt with stress alone.

These days, more people understand that it’s healthy for men to express emotions. But back then, it was something they just weren’t allowed to do without being judged.

Marry Without a Job

If a man wanted to get married 100 years ago, he needed a job—and not just any job, but one that could support a whole household.

It didn’t matter if the woman wanted to work or not. The man was expected to bring home enough money for both of them, and probably some kids too.

No job?

No wedding.

Many families wouldn’t even let their daughters marry a man who didn’t have steady work. It was seen as irresponsible. The groom had to prove he could afford a home, food, and everything else a family might need.

Love wasn’t enough—you had to show you had cash, too.

Buy Alcohol Legally

From 1920 to 1933, the United States banned the sale of alcohol. This time was called Prohibition, and it meant no beer, no wine, no whiskey—at least not legally.

So, American men couldn’t go to a bar and order a drink, even if they were old enough and had the money.

That didn’t stop everybody, though. People found ways around the rules by going to secret places called speakeasies. These were hidden bars where you needed a password to get in.

It was risky, but a lot of men still went. The government tried to stop it, but it just made drinking more dangerous.

Many men got arrested or fined for having alcohol. Others made it themselves in hidden stills.

The Prohibition laws didn’t just take away drinks—they made everyday behavior illegal. When the law was finally repealed in 1933, people were ready to raise a legal glass again.

Cry at the Movies

Going to the movies was already a popular thing in the 1920s, but if a man cried during a sad film, he’d probably feel embarrassed.

Men were expected to keep their emotions in check, even when watching something heartbreaking. If tears started to fall, they’d usually try to hide it.

Back then, gender roles were super strict, and showing feelings—especially in public—wasn’t part of being a “real man.” Even if a film had a sad scene with someone losing a loved one or saying goodbye forever, men were supposed to sit there stone-faced.

This rule wasn’t written down anywhere, but most everyone followed it anyway.

Nowadays, nobody bats an eye if a guy tears up during a movie. But a hundred years ago, it could’ve led to teasing, judgment, or shame.

Dance Alone in Public

In the 1920s, dance halls and jazz clubs were everywhere, but there were still strange rules about dancing. One of them was that men weren’t really supposed to dance alone. It was seen as odd or suspicious.

If a man got too into the music and started busting moves solo, people might’ve laughed or whispered.

Dancing was usually done with a partner, and men were expected to lead. If you weren’t dancing with a lady, you were probably just standing by the wall or getting a drink.

Dancing on your own?

That might’ve looked “unmanly” or even downright improper, especially in more conservative towns.

It’s funny to think about now, since dancing alone is totally normal—and even celebrated. But back then, it just wasn’t part of what society said was “okay” for men to do in public.

Wear Bright Colors

A hundred years ago, men’s fashion was mostly about dark suits, plain shirts, and black or brown shoes. As for bright colors? They weren’t really allowed unless you were in a costume or part of a show.

Even ties were usually dark.

If a man wore something flashy—like a red jacket or yellow shoes—people might think he was strange, silly, or trying too hard. It was seen as too bold and not “manly” enough.

It took decades for men’s fashion to get more colorful. The 1960s and 1970s finally brought some bright shirts and patterned pants into the mix.

But in the 1920s and earlier, men had to stick to dull colors if they didn’t want to raise eyebrows.

Skip Church Without Judgment

In 1925, religion played a much bigger role in daily life than many people experience today.

For many American men, going to church every Sunday wasn’t just a personal choice—it was a social rule. If a man skipped church, neighbors might gossip or think he was a troublemaker. Some even thought skipping church meant you weren’t a good citizen.

A lot of jobs and social clubs were tied to churches, too.

That meant showing up on Sunday was also good for networking and your reputation. If you didn’t go, people noticed—and they asked questions. It was an especially big deal in small towns.

These days, beliefs are more private and personal. But a hundred years ago, if a man didn’t attend church regularly, folks often thought less of him. He could lose respect in the community or be seen as untrustworthy, even if he was a kind and honest person.

Talk Openly About Mental Health

In the 1920s, mental health wasn’t something people talked about much—especially not men.

If a man was struggling with anxiety or depression, he usually kept it to himself. There were no therapy ads on TV or mental health days at work. In fact, asking for help could get you labeled as weak or even crazy.

Most folks didn’t understand mental health back then. There were a lot of myths and not much support.

Men were told to just push through their problems and keep working. If someone did go to a doctor for emotional struggles, they might be sent away to an institution instead of getting real care.

Because of this, many men suffered in silence. It took decades for mental health to become something people could talk about without shame. Today, it’s okay for anyone—men included—to reach out for help.

But 100 years ago, that kind of honesty wasn’t allowed without facing major judgment.

Wear a Wedding Ring

Back in the 1920s, most American men didn’t wear wedding rings. While women usually got a ring to show they were married, it wasn’t common or expected for men to wear one.

The tradition of men wearing wedding bands didn’t really take off until World War II.

A big reason for that change was soldiers wanting to carry a reminder of their wives while they were away. It caught on quickly during the war years, and more men started wearing rings after that.

Before then, though, many men avoided it or thought jewelry was only for women.

So, 100 years ago, if you saw a man wearing a wedding ring, it might’ve looked strange. Today it’s completely normal—and expected.

Cook in a Restaurant Kitchen

Cooking professionally used to be considered “women’s work,” unless you were a fancy French chef.

A lot of American restaurant kitchens were run by women, especially in diners or lunch counters. Men weren’t always welcome unless it was a high-end hotel.

If a man said he wanted to be a cook, some people thought he was settling for a woman’s job. It wasn’t seen as masculine. That slowly started changing in the 1930s and 1940s, but in the 1920s, it could be tough for a man to get taken seriously in a basic kitchen job.

Of course, today we have famous male chefs and cooking competitions everywhere.

But 100 years ago, a man flipping burgers or making soup in a small-town café might’ve had to deal with raised eyebrows—or even get turned away.

Become a Kindergarten Teacher

A century ago, early childhood education was almost completely dominated by women.

Being a kindergarten teacher was one of the only jobs society approved for women back then—but not for men. If a man wanted to teach little kids, people often thought he was suspicious or unfit.

Some school districts wouldn’t even hire male kindergarten teachers. They believed women were more nurturing and patient. Men were expected to teach older kids or work in administration, not sit on the floor reading picture books or playing with toys.

That kind of thinking slowly started to change over time.

Today, male teachers are accepted at every grade level. But 100 years ago, if a man applied to teach kindergarten, the answer was almost always “no.”

Wear Their Hair Long

In the 1920s, short haircuts were the style for men—and not just for fashion, but for social acceptance.

Long hair on a man was seen as odd, rebellious, or just plain wrong. Most barbers gave every man the same clean, short cut with a side part, and that was that.

If a man grew his hair out past his ears, he might be accused of being lazy or trying to stand out too much. People might assume he was involved in something shady or didn’t care about looking respectable. That was especially true in smaller towns.

Today, hairstyles are all over the map. But back then, if a man wanted to grow out his hair, he’d probably get some not-so-nice comments—or even be told to cut it for a job or school.

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