1951-64 Social Developments Flashcards
What main categories do I need to mention when asked a question on social change in the 51-64 affluent society?
Rising living standards
Consumerism
The establishment
The position of women
Attitudes to immigration and racial violence
Teenager/Youth culture
Changing social attitudes/tensions
What can you tell me about rising living standards 1951-64?
Policy of full employment together with increasing productivity led to higher wages
Men’s average weekly wage up from £8.30 in 1951 to £15.35 in 1961
Government relaxed restrictions on borrowing - allowing more access to credit through HIRE PURCHASE
Housing improvements- slums cleared, replaced with new towns e.g. Harlow Essex and Kirkby in Liverpool. More affordable housing introduced
State subsidies kept food prices low and food rationing came to an end
What can you tell me about consumerism 1951-64?
More people able to buy household goods: washing machines, TV and fridges
Made women’s lives easier
Watching TV became a leisure activity
Advertisin route - particularly after ITV in 1955
TV programmes about DIY and gardening became popular- people had the money to make improvements
Car ownership up 25% increase between 1957 and 1959
This encouraged infrastructure improvements - Preston Bypass 1958.
People could commute
Cars, more money and shorter working weeks opened up new leisure, work and holiday opps
What happened to the establishment between 1951-1964?
At the start limited social mobility. Establishment from same backgrounds
Decline in deference through the period
Trust in politicians shaken - discovery that government had lied during Suez crisis
Debates over nuclear disarmament encouraged challenges to established ideas
Behaviour of members of establishment- e.g. Profumo tainted reputation
Satire boom. Private Eye, That Was The Week That Was- mocked the establishment
Angry Young Men used plays to attack established attitudes
How did the position of women change 1951-64?
Returned to traditional homemaker roles after war
75% married - average married age 21
Lives dominated by looking after children, cleaning, cooking, shopping and laundry
Household appliances saved time and for daughters
Women tended to be deterrred form working, especially when married with kids
Believed it would be detrimental to kids
Family Allowance encouraged women to stay at home
Trade unions discouraged as feared new pool of labour would decrease men’s wages
Equal pay for teachers 1952, civil service 1954
What were the attitudes to immigration 1951-64?
Labour shortages (transport and nursing) - people living in New commonwealth encouraged to move to Britain inc Empire Windrush ship from Jamaica in 1948
By 1958 21,000 settled from commonwealth
In total, in the 60s 1.25m came to live in Britain
Greater number emigrated in the 1960s -1.92m - mainly to Australia and the US
Immigrants filled low paid jobs
Many welcomed them
Increased social tension-due to underlying racism
1958 race riots in Nottingham and Notting Hill (London)
Mosely, leader of British racism, tried to become MP Notting Hill in 1959 on repatriation agenda
Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 to limit number allowed to come to Britain
Describe the emergence of youth culture in period 51-64
Teenager and youth culture became more noticeable
Full employment meant young people had disposable income to spend on themselves
Advertising recognised this market, creating teenager image
National service ended for men after 1960- more freedom
Labour saving devices meant girls had to help their mothers less
Baby boom- big increase in number of babies after Second World War- gave generation greater influence
Technology changed- transistor radios- easier for separate culture to develop
Early 50s Teddy Boys- long coats, narrow trousers, winklepicker shoes - fears linked them to rising crime
Late 50s Rockers- leather clothes, heavy motorcycles
Late 50s Mods- smart suits, scooters, ‘sophisticated’ pop music
Rivalry between Mods and Rockers. Riots in Clacton, Margate and Brighton lead to moral panic
What changes to social attitudes and tensions were there 51-64?
Greater appetite for gritty, edgy and more realistic entertainment
Z Cars drama 1962 - violence, poverty race
Taste of Honey 1958- race, unmarried mothers, homosexuality
Lady Chatterley’s lover 1962- sex
Changing attitudes caused tension, backlash against the changes
Mary Whitehouse moral crusade in 1963. Set up ‘Clean Up Campaign’ in 1964 and National viewers’ and Listeners’ Association in 1965
How would you summarise social change in period 51-64?
Greater affluence led to more consumerism and changing lifestyles
Britain became less deferent
Women’s lives changed by new tech
Immigration and emigration changed Britain’s demography
Youth culture became more distinct and visible
Traditional attitudes began to be questioned
Still continuity though:
Women primarily housewives
Many areas saw little immigration
Britain was still largely socially conservative
