I also recall that in 1976 my brother and I both started work the same month. After six months' probation, he was able to get a (staff discount) housing loan whilst I had to wait eight years. The only way I could get a "males only" housing loan was if I had a child to support, but I wasn't going to have a baby just to get a housing loan.
I also remember how you had to almost crawl on hand and knee to get a housing loan. I was working in the loans department head office in 1978. You needed 20% deposit (from memory) and it had to be proven to be genuine savings. No cash deposit from the parents would be accepted.
Getting a loan as a single woman was almost impossible. Those were rare.
So for those who say getting a loan is hard now, I say pfffft!!!