4.2 - Explain How Social Changes Affect Policy Development

Question 1

What are the three examples in 4.2?

Answer 1

Homosexuality, smoking, domestic abuse

Question 2

What are the 4 homosexuality legislations?

Answer 2

1. Buggery act (1533)
2. Sexual offences act (1967)
3. Civil partnerships act (2004)
4. The marriage (same sex couples) act (2014)

Question 3

What is the buggery act?

Answer 3

Target male homosexuality for persecution and was punishable by death

Question 4

What is the sexual offences act?

Answer 4

Homosexuality was decriminalised and the age of consent was set at 21

Question 5

What is the civil partnerships act?

Answer 5

Allowed homosexual couples to have the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples

Question 6

What is the marriage (same sex couples) act?

Answer 6

Allows same sec couples to marry with the same legal benefits as heterosexual couples

Question 7

Types of social change - homosexuality

Answer 7

Buggery act 1533 - homosexuality was a not a social norm, value or more as the Catholic Church and Christianity was very influential so homosexuality was seen as a sin

Sexual offences act 1967 - social attitudes still negative even though it was no longer a crime, it still goes against social norms and values

Civil partnership act 2004 - secularisation caused us to move away from the belief that it’s a sin (structure of society)

Same sex marriage act 2014 - change in public perception and changing attitudes as well as secularisation

Question 8

What are the 3 legislations for domestic abuse?

Answer 8

1. Rule of thumb law (1857)
2. Removal of implied consent (1991)
3. Domestic abuse act (2021)

Question 9

What is the rule of thumb law?

Answer 9

It was legal for a man to beat his wife as long as the stick he was using was no thinker than his thumb

Question 10

What is the removal of implied consent?

Answer 10

Domestic rape was classified as a criminal offence due to the R v R case

Question 11

What is the domestic abuse act?

Answer 11

Provides further protection for domestic abuse victims

Question 12

Types of social change - domestic abuse

Answer 12

Rule of thumb law 1857 - it was a social norm as at the time the wife was considered the husband’s property

Removal of implied consent 1991 - public perceptions and social structure changed and it was no longer a social norm

Domestic abuse act 2021 - improved status of women in society changed public perception

Question 13

What are the 6 legislations for smoking?

Answer 13

1. Socially acceptable (1930s)
2. Health warnings (1965)
3. Tobacco advertising and promotion act (2002)
4. Health act (2006)
5. Children and families act (2014)
6. Vaping (2024)

Question 14

How was smoking socially acceptable?

Answer 14

It was glamorised and encouraged, even by doctors and it was legal to smoke indoors and in public places

Question 15

What were the health warnings in 1965?

Answer 15

The tobacco industry were required to put warning labels on the products

Question 16

What is the tobacco advertising and promotion act?

Answer 16

Banned advertising of tobacco products

Question 17

What is the health act?

Answer 17

Banned smoking in public places and enclosed places

Question 18

What is the children and families act?

Answer 18

Banned smoking in a vehicle carrying under 18s

Question 19

What happened in 2024 about vaping?

Answer 19

January - PM Rishi Sunak announced that disposable vapes are being banned

Question 20

Types of social change - smoking

Answer 20

Socially acceptable (1930s) - was a social norm, value and more so was not criminal or deviant

Health warning (1965) - cultural change as warning labels highlighted the dangers due to advanced knowledge

Tobacco advertising and promotion act (2002) - change in public perception as it is no longer encouraged

Health act (2006) - demographic changes caused the smoking population to drastically declined over the years - 22% smoked (2006) and 13% smoked (2024)

Children and families act 2014 - no longer a social norm

Vaping (2024) - vaping is a social norm but public perception is slowly starting to change