2 - Social And Cultural Developments Flashcards
Who did living standards rise for during the 1950s?
All sectors of society
What was the 1950s an age of? What was it fuelled by?
Consumerism
Credit
How were many items bought? What is this type of purchase?
Hire purchase
A deposit - with weekly payments
What were the figures for car ownership growth?
3-7 million
What appliances could many people now afford? What are some examples?
Domestic
Vacuums, washing machines, cookers and refrigerators
What type of television developed? How many sets were bought from 1951 to 1963?
National
13 million
What did TV revolutionise?
People’s social lives to stay at home
What was the 1950s seen as for women? What were women tied to?
A regressive age
Childcare
What were women’s career opportunities like? What roles did professional women become?
Limited
Nurses, teachers or office workers
What percentage was the pay difference between men and women in the 1950s?
40%
What Service introduced equal pay in 1958?
Civil service
What were the expectations of women in school? What subjects were they made to concentrate on?
Low
Domestic sciences
What percentage of women went to university in the 1950s?
2%
What did Maureen Nicol introduce? When? Why?
National Housewives Register - 1958
To bring women closer together
What did Dora Russell organise? What did this act as a role model for?
Peace caravan
Women who sought more than domesticity
What was Britain dominated by? What did the Conservative government compose of?
Class
Privileged males
What did WW2 level out? What did it engender?
Society
“All being in it together”
What did the welfare state and NHS lead to? Whose expectations did this raise?
Improvements in well-being
The less well-off
What 2 things reduced class divisions?
Growing affluence and improved living standards
What encouraged a decline in deference?
Satire and scandals
What was one of the biggest government developments?
Growth in television
What did the BBC have a monopoly of? What was introduced in 1956?
Radio and TV
Commercial television
How were programmes financed?
Advertising
What was TV designed for? What was the most popular genre?
Escapism and entertainment
High quality dramas
What new socialism was introduced in theatre in the 1950s? What did this reflect?
Kitchen sink realism
Tensions in society
What were some playwrights dubbed as? Who is an example?
“Angry young men”
John Osborne
What TV show adapted kitchen sink realism? When did it first air?
Coronation Street
1960
