Sixties: Social Flashcards
1
Q
How did media develop?
A
- TV ownership increasing by 16% (1961-71) from 75-91%
- BBC2 (1964), satire/realistic drama eg “The Wednesday Play” tackling abortion + “Coronation Street” discussing idea of failed marriages
- by July 1967 BBC2 regular colour programmes
- “older” technology (radio/print media) remained relevant + popular by adapting eg pirate radio, Radio Luxembourg + transistors / “The Sun” replaced Daily Herald 1964
2
Q
What growth was there in leisure activities?
A
- TV and car ownership changed behaviour away from live events like football and theatre to family/individual activities like shopping and golf eg by 1969 TV 23% of leisure time + 1974 car used for 77% of journeys vs 39% 1954
- traditional pursuits eg cooking + gardening remained popular
- Britannia Airways founded 1964 eg going to Spain, Bulgaria + North Africa
- growth in package holidays eg 4-8.4% by 1971 but limited to middle class + 1951 27mill holidays vs 1971 41mill with 7mill abroad
3
Q
What scientific developments emerged?
A
- sexual health (the pill)
- household appliances and cars
- US moon landings 1969, Post Office Tower 1965 + Concorde (1st supersonic plane)
4
Q
What changes were there in moral attitudes and the permissive society?
A
- hippy movement that emphasised free love and flower power with drugs as prevalent; influenced Beatles who took LSD
- cocaine + heroin addiction 10x more than 60s
5
Q
What continuities were there about moral attitudes?
A
- backlash from Catholic church about the pill eg MP Norman St John Stevas 1968 wrote ‘The pope, the pill and the people’
- Mary Whitehouse (speech to 3000) led to National Listeners and Viewers Association 1965; 100,000 members
- behavioural change exaggerated eg Michael Schofield 1965 + Geoffrey Gorer 1971 found most people virgins on marriage or married first sexual partner
6
Q
What was the government’s reaction to the permissive society?
A
- 1967 Dangerous Drugs Act
- 1968 Wootton Report which suggested the legalisation of cannabis but Callaghan rejected this as wanted to ‘call a halt to the rising tide of permissiveness’
- 1970 supplying drugs max 14yrs imprisonment
7
Q
How did censorship change?
A
- innovative theatre eg Royal Court Theatre, London
- theatrical censorship ended through act of parliament 1968 eg Hair (1968) 13 of the cast were nude
- British board of film censors still categorised films but considerable relaxation
- more daring films eg Darling 1965 + Alfie 1966
- plays still had to gain license from Lord Chamberlain’s Office
8
Q
What were the changes for women?
A
- rise of second wave feminism eg Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” 1963, Juliet Mitchell’s “women: the longest revolution” 1966 + Germaine Greer’s “The Female Eunuch” 1970 culminating in a rally in the UK 1969 and 1970 Women’s liberation conference
- more educational opportunity especially for middle class but only 28% of uni students 1970
- Matrimonial Property Act 1970 but increase in divorce + abortion eg illegitimate births 5.8-8.2% 1960-70
- 1967 NHS Family Planning Act allowed provision of contraceptives and advice
- ongoing inequality in employment eg only 5% held managerial roles by 1970
- 1970 equal pay act not enforced until 1975
9
Q
How did youth culture change?
A
- hippies and skinheads in late 1960s
- anti-establishment stance
- hippies embraced environmentalism and peace and opposed war in Vietnam
- fashion eg women wore trousers + men wore satin and velvet
- music eg TV programmed like “Ready, steady, Go” and “Top of the pops”
- rebellion against older generation but new examples and opportunities
- alcohol, tobacco and caffeine more prevalent than drugs
10
Q
What were the anti-vietnam war protests?
A
- increase in critical nature of protests including violence towards world events + gov policy connected to them
- “teach-ins” in 1965 at Oxford Uni and LSE
- links to previous tradition of popular protest
- Vietnam Solidarity Campaign 1966 with student support
- 17th March 1968 + October (30,000) demonstration
- 28th March Battle of Grosvenor Square, 200 arrested
- protest against defence secretary Dennis Healey by Cambridge students (car nearly overturned)
11
Q
How did people view immigration in Britain?
A
- increased especially from Caribbean, India, Pakistan + Bangladesh
- North London 1965: 20% objected working with coloured people, 50% living next door + 90% disapproved of mixed marriage
12
Q
What positives surrounded race and immigration?
A
- Notting Hill Carnival, annual from 1964
- takeaways, new food
- music + fashion as a influence
13
Q
What government legislation was brought in to tackle racial issues?
A
- 1965 + 1968 race relations acts forbade discrimination in public places, but employers could discriminate in interests of ‘racial balance’, complaints against police excluded from law + board held 10% of 1241 complaints by 1972
- 1967 Kenyan Immigrants Act which made it so you required work permits
- 1968 commonwealth immigration act
14
Q
What was significant about Enoch Powell?
A
- April 1968 “rivers of blood” speech
- dockers + 600 meat porters protested with 92 page petition
- 28th April 1968, 1500 marched to Downing Street chanting “Arrest Enoch Powell”
- but 75% supported Powell
15
Q
How had conservatives changed education?
A
- first comprehensives eg Kidbrooke 1954
- Edward Boyle 1962-64 abolition of 11+ exam
- 1963 Robbins Report to expand unis, science, CATs, increase grants + new unis opened eg 1954 Newcastle
