3 Attitudes towards sex and conservative backlash 1951-1979 Flashcards
media
how did the media behave in terms of attitudes towards sex, what was sex associated with, and which scandals caused concern over the liberal society?
- the media more openly talked about sex in the 1960s
- sex was associated with consumerism
- the profumo scandal and lady chatterly trail raised alarms
when were attitudes towards homosexuals shaken up?
Wolfenden Report
- Reccomended homosexual acts in private shouldnt be an offence
supported by the BMA and the archbishop of canterbury
when were attitudes towards homosexuals shaken up?
Sexual Offences Act 1967
allowed homosexual acts in private between 2 consenting males over the age of 21
when were attitudes towards homosexuals shaken up?
what happened to incidence of homosexual public indecency, and what happened to toleration of homosexuality?
- doubling of incidents of public indencency between males in 1967-1976
- By 1969, 12% had tolerant views of homosexuality, by 1983, it was 62%
when were attitudes towards homosexuals shaken up?
when was the homosexual law reform society group formed? what about the Gay Liberation Front? when was the first pride rally held and where?
1958: homosexual law reform society group
1971: gay liberation front
1972: first gay pride rally in London, 1000 people took part.
when were attitudes towards homosexuals shaken up?
examples: Sir John Gielgud
- distinguished Shakespearean actor
- charged of ‘importuning’ (requesting homosexual acts) and fined £10
- had several long term relationships with men
- gave money to Stonewall
when were attitudes towards homosexuals shaken up?
examples: John Inman
Actor in comedy
- voted funniest man in tv in 1976 and won the BBC personality of the year award
- sitcomes include Are You Being Served?
the pill
what did the production of the pill mean for women (and men…)
- men could now ressure women more easily into sex without long-term commitment :(
- seperated contraception from intercourse
did the pill really mean everyone had premarital sex?
- not reallly, premarital sex increasing predated the pil
when was the pill ACTUALLY available to everyone
wasn’t available until 1974 for free on the NHS, and even then it was mostly used by middle class women.
How effective were the opponents of the Liberal Society?
Mary whitehouse campaign
- ‘clean up tv’ campaign very popular
- she blamed Hugh Carleton-Greene director general of the BBC for the growth of permissive liberal values in tv from 1960-1969
- ‘clean up tv’ petition recieved 50,000 signatures
How effective were the opponents of the Liberal Society?
NVALA: who did it attract? what were its achievements? what did Mary Whitehouse claim?
formed in 1965, the National Viewers and Listerning Association attracted church officials, MPs and the police
its achievements included:
- banning child pornography with the Children Act of 1978
- banning the movie deep throat in 1976
whitehouse claimed the NAVLA attracted over 100,000 members
How effective were the opponents of the Liberal Society?
Malcom Muggeridge
founded the festival of light
How effective were the opponents of the Liberal Society?
Festival of Light aims
- prevent sexualisation of TV
- promote christian teachingds
How effective were the opponents of the Liberal Society?
affects of the Festival of Light
alienated those who shared beliefs but didnt go to church every week…
also didnt really change public attitudes or laws.
