The world used to be way more restrictive, with a few exceptions, particularly if you were a woman or person of color. But, even for everyone else, there were far more restrictions on what you could do or say, in addition to the mentioned medical advancements. Police officers and government officials got away with much more then in terms of corruption and so on, even with our current crop pretty shady. I can give you plenty of examples on any of those point, if needed, too.
I almost feel people are too comfortable in our advanced age and make up supposed instances of "disasters" or severe violations of rights, like wearing masks to combat a virus. The modern age is so far better than the past that boredom (and a severe lack of perspective) is the only theory I can imagine as to why so many people are intent on blowing it up with talk of secession, civil war, anti-vaxxism, and on and on.
Also, anyone downgrading the threat of climate change is seriously whistling past the graveyard. This will be THE issue of the back half of this century and maybe even earlier.