Changes in society

Question 1

Female equality progress from 1951-1987

Answer 1

• More women were able to get access to the contraceptive pill
• Divorce Reform Act 1969
• Legislation of Abortion 1967
• Opportunities in education - open university
• Family Planning Act of 1967
• Matrimonial Property Act 1970
• Sex discrimination Act 1975
• Equal Pay Act 1970

Question 2

Female equality progress from 1987 - 1997

Answer 2

• It became more normal for women to work - by 1996 50% of employees were women - pay not equal still.
• Women has more prominent positions e.g. more women were appointed as mps.
• ‘Third wave’ feminism - prioritised breaking down stereotypes for women
• Emergence of the Spice Girls - gained top charts even though industry was male dominated. Demonstrated that women and girls can achieve anything, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Zoe Ball
• Thatcher has demonstrated that women could be strong although she wasn’t an advocate of feminism
• First ordination of female ministers 1994.
• Rape within a marriage becomes illegal in 1994.
• More improvements under Blair, pay + childcare opportunities

Question 3

Race relations evidence of progress from 1951-1987

Answer 3

• The Race Relations Act 1965 which forbade discrimination in public places or on the grounds of colour. However, this excluded discrimination in housing or employment
• In 1976 Race Relations Act

Question 4

Race relations evidence of racism from 1951-1987

Answer 4

• There was many riots e.g. Notting Hill
• Race riots 1950s and 1960s
• Government response with the commonwealth immigrants act limiting numbers
• Rivers of Blood Speech
• The immigration Act 1971 restricted the right of people from the new Commonwealth from coming to Britain
• Racism in football
• Racism in music and culture

Question 5

Race relations evidence of progress from 1987-1997

Answer 5

• In 1987, four non - white mps were elected and all held their seats until the next election in 1992, first since the 1920s
• No race riots against police or establishment

Question 6

Race relations evidence of racism 1987-1997

Answer 6

• SUS law
• Brixton riots
• Progress was inconsistent
• Tensions remain between the police and young black men
• Murder of Stephan Lawrence
• Evidence of Racism amongst mps
• McPherson report concluded that police were institutionally racist
• Tensions within social cohesion as immigrants came from Somalia.

Question 7

What does it mean to be anti-establishment?

Answer 7

• Increase in people’s willingness to challenge traditional sources of authority e.g. the police and the monarch, perceived to not live up to the expectations

Question 8

What grievances did the public have with the monarchy?

Answer 8

• Dianas treatment at hands of royal family
• Marriages of 3/4 Queen’s children broke down, with lurid tabloid headlines
• Details of extramarital affairs, including recordings of telephone conversations were published in the tabloid press
• Financing of Windsor Castle after fire, Diana’s death.

Question 9

What was the impact of Diana’s death?

Answer 9

• Public support in the monarchy reached a low in 1997, Queen accused of not caring.
• Questioning of the monarchy in relation to her death and further investigation into the treatment of Diana

Question 10

What examples are there of anti- establishment culture developing in the 1990s?

Answer 10

• Presence in the Arts- artists challenged ideas about what art is - Damien Hurst & Tracy Emmin “Sensation Exhibition” in 1997
• Youth Culture challenged the Establishment, ‘acid house’, dance music with drug induced psychedelic edge, arrived from USA. Saw explosion of illegal raves and free parties, linked to use of drug ecstasy, provoked moral action about drug - taken

Question 11

How did the government respond?

Answer 11

• Government passed the criminal justice and public order act 1994 which gave police more powers to break up these illegal parties.

Question 12

How was a growing optimism reflected in British pop music?

Answer 12

• New Labour came to prominence, musicians, actors and designers saw themselves part of a ‘cool Britannia’ scene centered on the cultural vibrancy of London, Union Jack became an iconic symbol of the time, calls into question how much youth culture was anti-establishment

Question 13

What were the main concerns of environmentalist groups in the 1990s?

Answer 13

• Used many innovative direct measures to delay or block road work including climbing and chaining themselves to trees, built tunnels aswell.
• Road developments. Twyford Down M3 extension 1992 and spread to other cities e.g. Newbury bypass and the M11 link road.
• Brought together wide range of people, ranging from local residents, often middle class protesters who didn’t normally come out and protest.