long-term impact of liberal legislation, post 1970 Flashcards
The contraceptive pill
Becomes more acceptable and available on the NHS from 1971.
Responsibility left to the woman –> man can avoid family planning.
Women and mortgages
Could get a mortgage without a male guarantor from 1971.
1975 Sex Discrimination Act
Makes discrimination in employment and education illegal –> yet only 10% of cases are successful as it was hard to prove,
Third Wave Feminism in 90s
Riot Grrrl Movement and ‘Girl Power’ from Spice Girls.
Representation of women on TV e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Ladette Culture.
Moral Panics from Third Wave Feminism
Divorce rates record high in 90s.
30% illegitimate children born, more than doubling from the 80s.
Campaign against availability of contraception to girls under the age of consent by Victoria Gillick.
Progress for women being seen as individuals
1990 - Married women taxed separately from their husbands.
1992 - First female speaker in the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd.
1993 - 68% of women employed.
1994 - First female priests.
1994 - rape within marriage becomes a crime.
1996 - 50% of employees were women. Women’s pay improved, but still 80% of men’s.
Major had 2 women in his cabinet (compared to Thatcher who only had 1).
The Comprehensive schooling system
Underperforming schools were targeted.
1994 Teacher Training Agency was introduced to ensure teachers were aware of the latest guidance.
1997 the National Curriculum was introduced to standardise across schools, outlining what students should learn at different key stages.
More testing.
The Open University
Expansion of OU continued in 1990s.
Celebrated 100,000th graduate by 1990, and its 200,000th by 1998.
Overseas expansion also continued into the 90s and beyond.
Curriculum continued to expand.
Attitudes to Homosexuality
Growing negativity during 80s.
First AIDS case in Britain 1981, referred to as ‘gay plague’. However, gov began prevention campaign in 1985: needle exchanges were set up and leaflets were distributed in schools.
‘Looney left’ councils accused of promoting homosexual ‘lifestyles by funding support groups.
Children’s book ‘Jenny lives with Eric and Martin’ caused tabloid outcry and contributed to Section 28, the censorship of homosexual material.
Gay Rights Advocation
The Gay Teachers Association campaigned against Section 28 and supported teachers on how to counter homophobia in schools.
Many in Labour and TUs opposed Section 28.
1994 age of consent lowered to 18 for gay men, and finally to 16 in 2000.
Ban on gay people serving in armed forces lifted.
75% thought homosexuality was wrong in 1987 –> fell to 50% in 1998.
Section 28 repealed by Labour 2003.
