Why Were the 80s So Weird?

The 80s. Arguably one of the most memorable decades, but certainly one of the weirdest! What made people style their hair to stand two feet above their head (that was a little exaggerating)? Why was neon so popular? Why did people get married at such a young age? And why did they do the craziest things? Like what happened at Action Park.

The 80s really took things to extreme. But exactly why so much to the point that it just became weird to some?

Why Were the 80s So Weird?

The 80s were weird due to teenage and young adult rebellion, lax government regulations, growing popularity of rock bands, television and media advertising, major influences from celebrities and trends from previous decades. The 80s certainly weren’t weird by coincidence; all of these influences led to some crazy trends, especially in the fashion world. Heavy makeup, hairspray, colors and everything else were everywhere. So here’s how it all happened.

1. Teenage and Young Adult Rebellion

During the time Baby Boomers were parents, they were taught that younger members of the family must respect their elders. So they enforced the same rules on their kids. The Boomers also went to finishing school which they also tried to instill on their children. Women had to learn to please their husbands, stay at home and take care of the kids and house while men went off to work to provide for their families. Well, the Gen Xers wanted nothing to do with that, and it’s not surprising.

So teens and young adults rebelled, staying out past curfew, getting part-time jobs instead of going to finishing school, watching adult shows on TV and some even getting into trouble. Then again, this was also a time when kids went out exploring, simply because they didn’t have cell phones, wifi, tablets, video games, laptops or any of the technological junk kids use today. But the misfortune of how today’s kids don’t spend enough time outside or even face to face is another story.

The 80s were the best time in which young adults and teenagers would stay out late, explore their local area with their friends and make a ton of mistakes. They thrived off of thrill, simply because it was much easier to do with the lax rules and government regulation. Which brings me to my next reason.

2. Lax Rules and Government Regulations

For those who remember the 80s, they would agree it was a much simpler time; there weren’t nearly the amount of rules, restrictions or laws that exist today. In fact, many believed large companies and organizations would stick to ethical practices, which had disastrous consequences, including the Exxon Mobil Oil Spill, fraud, discrimination, deaths at Action Park in New Jersey and consumer poisoning deaths from tampering with Tylenol.

There were also many things considered unacceptable today that nobody would think twice about then. Parents were allowed to spank their kids, products sold without a safety seal, cat calling, recording live performances, calling a football team “The Redskins” (now the Washington Football Team), smoking indoors and on planes, children watching scary, gory movies, the list goes on.

As a result of the simpler times, there were certainly pros and cons. The kids of the 80s feel they had more of a fulfilling childhood, one without all the structure and restrictions today; they got away with a lot more than today’s kids ever would.

But the downside is they don’t have the convenience of doing everything from their phones, such as checking their bank account, investing in the stock market, adding appointments to their calendar, and just about everything else. On the other hand, many would also agree that the 80s were a better time than today; things were easier, more fun and not as crazy as today’s culture. Then again, young adults and teens today will probably say the same thing in 20 years.

Overall, fewer rules, government restrictions and technology meant more freedom, which sometimes led to a crazy, reckless lifestyle, exactly how many loved it back then.

3. Growing Popularity of Rock Bands

Guns N’ Roses, Queen, Metallica, AC/DC Bon Jovi, Foreigner, Journey, Motorhead, R.E.M., U2. These were only some of the legendary rock bands that were popular during the 80s. Not only did 80s kids love their music, but they dressed like their favorite bands! This is part of where the mullets, big hair, leather jackets and gloves came from. The rock band fashion trend was contagious as people still get crazy with the clothes today.

So why exactly was rock popular? Well, people wanted to get away from the 70s music. Disco was totally uncool. Rock was rebellious, edgy, but most of all, different. You certainly can’t rock out to disco like you can with rock. That’s why it’s called rock!

If anything, disco was more related to pop. After the introduction of the Casio keyboard, you can hear it in almost any 80s pop song, like “The Final Countdown” by Europe, “Separate Ways” by Journey, “Jump” by Van Halen, “1999” by Prince, “Runaway” by Bon Jovi, and so much more. Pop had an amazing beat, one that you didn’t need to wear a big afro or disco ball to get on the dance floor.

4. Television and Celebrities

Just by coincidence, television and media advertising offered a whole new form of entertainment. Gone were the days of dealing with three channels. TV offered everything for families all over the world. Surely TV was invented in 1927 by Philo Taylor Farnsworth, but nobody really had their own personal television set until the 80s. They were surely big, bulky and many came without a remote, but television during this time offered so many options. Everything from ABC, NBC, PBS, CNN and The Weather Channel were just a few things available to watch.

But it was MTV that really owned the television market, especially for young adults and teens. While the 80s were known for having some crazy trends, it was really the younger generation that made up this culture. MTV was simply the YouTube of the 80s, with its commercials, millions of viewers and music artists as the content creators. MTV also offered a new way of listening to music, you could watch and listen to your favorite artists, whether it be rock, pop, or techno. Although techno didn’t really take off until the 90s.

MTV was also the medium in which fans were able to put a face to their music. Before, they had to go to the record store and buy the album to see the artist. Through MTV, millions of fans watched their favorite artists perform, giving them a more immersive experience.

So when everyone saw Michael Jackson in the “Thriller Video” sporting the bright V-shaped leather jacket, stores quickly sold out of them. One popular store known for selling short-lived fashionable clothing was Merry-Go-Round. They offered numerous items commonly worn from popular icons like Prince, Madonna and even the legendary Jane Fonda.

Jane Fonda

In addition to MTV, Jane Fonda became famous for hosting the first at-home work out video on April 24th 1982. Viewers no longer had to go to the gym to work out; they could easily do it at home with a yoga mat and some dumbbells. You can also guess that this is where the trend of wearing athletic clothing came from. As Jane sported her spandex, leotard, leg warmers and headband on air, viewers were obsessed. Soon enough, everyone walked around town wearing athletic clothing.

Ultimately, as the popularity of television only grew, so did the fashion trends associated with it.  Even today, this pattern is no different as we watch our favorite artists and actors on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and the never-ending list of streaming services.

5. Trends from Previous Generations

As much as young Gen Xers refused to admit it, there were a few trends that carried into the 80s. The trend of having big hair certainly wasn’t introduced in the 80s. Perms in the 50s and 60s as well as afros and thick curly hair in the 70s carried well into the 80s, with a few modifications of course. In fact there were a number of trends from previous generations that carried over to the 80s, including:

• Go-Go Boots
• Black Lights
• Tie Dye Clothing
• Mood Rings
• Metallic clothing
• Animal print clothing

As much as 80s kids hated to admit it, there were a few things that stuck through this decade as they fit in with the rebellious, edgy culture of the 80s that we now think is weird. Even today, there are a number of fashion trends from the 80s that are popular again today, including logo’d t-shirts, shoulder pads, brighter makeup, Ray-Ban sunglasses, velvet clothing and much more.

Influences on the 80s

So there you have it, everything that influenced the 80s and why it was so “weird.” Even then, many knew it, especially the Baby Boomers, but the Gen Xers didn’t care. It was different and they didn’t care what anyone else thought. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

What Do You Think?

If there’s anything you’d like to add, such as something else that influenced the 80s. Even if it’s just a theory, I’d love to know! Please leave feedback in the comments section below.