1970s
The 1970s
The 1970s (the "Seventies" or "the '70s") was the decade beginning 1 January 1970 and ending 31 December 1979. It was a transitional decade that carried forward the social revolutions of the 1960s while also introducing new cultural, economic and technological dynamics that shaped later decades.
Quick themes
- Politics & economy: the decade saw economic turbulence (notably the 1973 oil crisis and stagflation), decolonisation in parts of the world, and significant geopolitical change.
- Cultural change: second-wave feminism, the consolidation of the sexual revolution, the growth of LGBT activism and Pride, and the emergence of new youth cultures.
- Music & subcultures: disco and club culture flourished in the early-to-mid 1970s; punk and its DIY ethic emerged in the mid-to-late 1970s as a sharp cultural reaction.
- Fashion: individuality, bohemian and androgynous looks, the wrap dress, bell-bottoms, platform shoes, satin and glitter for nightlife, and an early move towards casual, anti-conformist dressing.
- Technology: the first commercial microprocessors (for example the Intel 4004 in 1971) began a slow shift toward personal and home computing.
Social movements and rights
The 1970s were a crucial decade for organised social change. Second-wave feminism reached mass visibility and achieved legislative and institutional gains in many countries (for example, Title IX in the United States in 1972 broadened access to education and sport for women). The sexual revolution's effects continued into the decade with wider acceptance of contraception, changing norms around premarital sex, and greater public discussion of sexuality. LGBT activism grew more visible following the Stonewall riots of 1969; Pride marches and community organising became established features of urban life in many countries.
Culture, music and nightlife
Nightlife and dance culture were especially influential. Disco—rooted in Black, Latino and queer club scenes—dominated dancefloors through much of the 1970s; its fashion, hedonism and sensuality became shorthand for the era's sexual looseness. By contrast, punk emerged mid-decade as a raw, confrontational counterpoint: short songs, stripped-back production, and a fashion language of safety pins, leather and DIY customisation.
Both movements left durable traces on fashion, film and writing: disco influenced pop production and glamorous clubwear, while punk changed how writers described youth alienation and street-level rebellion.
Sexuality & Erotic Culture
Disco Eroticism: Dance floors became arenas of tactile liberation—sweat-slicked bodies moving in unison, polyester shirts clinging to skin, platform shoes elevating hips to eye level. Donna Summer's moans and falsetto cries normalized vocal pleasure, while mirror balls fragmented and multiplied erotic glances.
Feminist Sexual Awakening: Second-wave feminism reclaimed female desire through consciousness-raising groups discussing orgasm, masturbation, and sexual autonomy. Books like "Our Bodies, Ourselves" (1971) demystified female anatomy and pleasure, encouraging women to demand satisfaction in relationships.
Gay Liberation: Post-Stonewall Pride marches and bathhouses created visible queer spaces. The Castro district and Greenwich Village became erotic hubs, with drag balls, leather bars, and public displays of same-sex affection challenging heteronormative culture.
Punk Rawness: The movement's aggressive energy carried sexual charge—ripped clothing exposing skin, safety pins as provocative jewelry, confrontational flirting. Punk challenged sexual respectability, embracing BDSM aesthetics and non-monogamous exploration.
Wrap Dress Revolution: Diane von Furstenberg's designs (1972) made women's bodies accessible—ties that could be loosened with a pull, jersey fabric molding to curves. This practical sensuality symbolized sexual agency and ease.
Sexual Liberation Literature: Erica Jong's "Fear of Flying" (1973) popularized "zipless fucks"—casual, no-strings-attached encounters. This challenged romantic ideals, celebrating female sexual appetite without emotional entanglement.
Contraceptive Freedom: Widely available birth control and abortion rights (Roe v. Wade, 1973) enabled women to separate sex from reproduction. This fostered experimentation with multiple partners, same-sex relationships, and pleasure-focused sexuality.
Tantric and Spiritual Sexuality: Eastern influences brought tantric practices and sexual mysticism to Western seekers. Some explored extended lovemaking and energy work, blending physical pleasure with spiritual awakening.
Period detail: small props (vinyl records, platforms, wrap dresses, polyester, early portable electronics) and the smells, sounds and textures of clubs or communal living ground a scene in the decade.
Social context: characters' choices about work, sex, family and politics are shaped by a world where gender roles and sexual norms were actively contested.
Tone: the decade can read as hopeful (liberation and rights), anxious (economic uncertainty), or decadent (club excess), depending on setting and perspective.