For much of modern Western history, particularly in the United States and allied democracies, certain practices were widely viewed as basic safeguards rooted in practicality, biology, fairness, and legal tradition. These included secure election processes with identity verification, sex-based categories in sports, and protections for minors regarding irreversible medical procedures.

The following outlines key shifts, drawing on documented policy changes and timelines.

Voter Identification and Election Integrity

~ Historically, in-person voting with identity checks was the norm in many jurisdictions. South Carolina enacted the first U.S. voter identification law (requesting ID with the voter’s name) in 1950. By 2000, 14 states had some form of voter ID requirements.

~ The Help America Vote Act of 2002 introduced federal requirements for first-time voters registering by mail in federal elections to show identification. Strict photo ID laws expanded significantly after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which altered aspects of the Voting Rights Act’s preclearance requirements. Multiple states, including Texas, North Carolina, and others, then implemented or strengthened photo ID rules in the following years.

~ Proof of citizenship for voter registration was traditionally enforced through oaths and eligibility rules under laws like the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Documentary proof requirements have been limited and often challenged; for example, Kansas’s 2011–2013 effort was struck down in 2018. Recent federal and state pushes (e.g., the SAVE Act discussions in 2024–2026) represent efforts to formalize it amid debates over enforcement.

Mail-In Ballots

Absentee and mail voting originated with military needs during the Civil War (1860s) and expanded for civilians with excuses (illness, disability, travel) in subsequent decades. No-excuse absentee voting grew starting in the 1970s–1980s (e.g., California in 1978). Oregon became the first state with fully mail-in elections in 1996–1998.

The practice expanded further in the 2000s–2010s, with more states adopting no-excuse options. By 2016, 31 states plus D.C. allowed it; expansions accelerated during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 45 states plus D.C. with broader access.

Men in Women’s Sports

Sex-segregated sports categories have long been standard in competitive athletics to account for biological differences in performance. Policy shifts allowing transgender women (biological males) to compete in women’s categories gained traction internationally in the early 2000s. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) updated guidelines in 2003–2004 to permit participation under certain conditions, such as hormone therapy.

Further changes occurred in 2015–2021, with the IOC revising frameworks to emphasize testosterone levels or self-identification elements in some contexts, leading to increased participation debates at collegiate and elite levels. Recent U.S. policy responses, including executive actions in 2025, have sought to re-emphasize sex-based categories.

Transgender Surgery on Underage Children

Medical interventions for gender dysphoria in minors were historically rare and generally deferred until adulthood. The Dutch protocol (pioneering puberty blockers) began with cases in the early 1990s. WPATH Standards of Care evolved over time; earlier versions emphasized adulthood for surgeries.

Puberty blockers (originally for precocious puberty) saw expanded use in gender care in the 2000s–2010s. Chest surgeries (mastectomies) for minors occurred in limited cases, with guidelines varying. WPATH’s SOC-8 (2022) removed specific age minimums for some interventions, relying on maturity assessments, though genital surgeries remained largely restricted to adults. Utilization data from U.S. studies (e.g., around 2019) showed surgeries on minors as rare overall, primarily chest procedures in older teens.

Starting around 2021, multiple U.S. states began enacting restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, with Arkansas first, followed by over two dozen others by the mid-2020s. Court challenges and international reviews (e.g., UK Cass Review influences) have continued.

These changes reflect evolving legal, medical, and cultural priorities in Western societies over recent decades.

When did we lose common sense?