4.2 - Social norms impacting policy Flashcards
What are mores??
Mores are very basic, essential norms that society sees as vital for maintaining standards of decency and civilised behaviour.
In other words, mores are society’s most important moral rules.
One example is the taboo against incest which is found in all societies.
Going against a society’s mores is likely to be severely punished.
3 examples of social norms imacting policy??
LGBTQ
Drink driving
Race relations
Explain drunk driving??
Over time, views have changed about drink driving and this has led to changes in laws and policies. The public have come to see it as much more serious and the laws governing it have become tighter.
In 1925, the first law was passed making driving while drunk an offence. However, there was no clear definition of ‘drunk’, and no legal limit on how much alcohol drivers could have in their blood, so it was left to the police and courts to decide whether someone was fit to drive.
1951, only 15% of households owned a car, but by 1971 this had risen to 55%.
Deaths - 5000 in 1950 to 8000 by the 1960s.
Drink driving developed??
In 1968, the first breathalysers were introduced for roadside use.
This and advertising helped to reduce road deaths by over 1100 and serious injuries by over 11,000.
Importantly, the proportion of accidents where alcohol was involved also fell, from 25% to 15%.
In 1991, a new offence causing death by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was introduced, compulsory prison sentence of up to 5 years. (In 2014, this was increased to 14 years)
What is the road traffic act 1988??
- Still affects us
- changes with develpoments
- says cant drive under the influence of anything
Exlplain demographic changes.
In 1945, there were fewer than 20,000 non-white residents in the UK. The main immigrant groups were both white: Irish + Jews
During the 1950s and 1960s, non-white immigrants from former colonies - Caribbean, + Indian+ Africa.
Asian - 6.9% of population
What is the windrush generation??
Early arrivals that came were known as the Windrush generation and faced hostility with many white people holding racist stereotypes of black people as dirty, diseased or criminal.
There was discrimination all over England. Churches turning away black worshippers.
Was legal to discriminate against a person on the grounds of race. This led to exploitation by landlords letting slum housing to immigrants who frequently could only get low paid low skilled jobs even when qualified.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, immigrants were often faced with discrimination in housing, employment and services.
In 1956, a survey in Birmingham found that only 1.5% of white individuals would be willing to let a room to a black tenant.
What was done about the windrush generation??
A Race Relations Acts was passed in 1965.
This banned racial discrimination in public places and made the promotion of hatred on grounds of ‘colour, race or ethnic or national origins’ an offence.
Two types of discrimination??
Both Acts were replaced by the 1976 Race Relations Act, which covered the following:
1) Direct discrimination- When someone treats you less favourably, for example because of your race.
2) Indirect discrimination- When there is a policy or a rule that applies to everyone, but it has a worse effect on some groups than others.
How have attitudes changed??
Since the 1960’s, there has been a cultural change, a decline in prejudice towards ethnic minorities. The 1987 British Attitudes Survey found that 39% of people were racially prejudiced, whereas by 2017, this had fallen to 26%.
As a result of changing attitudes, there has been a change in the public perception of discrimination and race hate as crime. People are now more likely to accept that these should be criminal offences.
Gay attitudes 2000s??
2014 - same sex couples act - most important
3 points for gay attitudes??
1 - equality+inclusitvity important now
2 - Secularisation
3 - Individualism
What do you talk about for the third change??
Equality and Anti discrimination
Race relations act 1976 - now known as 2010 equality act - changes over time to include a wider scope.
