Social and Cultural Change 1964-1970 Flashcards
Expansion of the Mass Media - TV
Director-general of the BBC from 1960-69, Hugh Green, encouraged development of new programming: more populism (support for ordinary people), satire, and realistic drama e.g. The Wednesday Play.
ITV started 1955 and BBC2 started 1964.
25% ^ in TV ownership between 1961-1971. (90% of people had one by 1971).
TWTWTW TV show –> Wilson became target of satire during Vietnam War for not denouncing it.
Introduction of colour TV.
Expansion of the Mass Media - Radio
Teens listened to popular music broadcasted through pirate radio stations and then from Radio Luxembourg and BBC Radio 1.
Expansion of the Mass Media - Print Media
Newspapers and magazines survived by adapting - The Sun was launched 1964 and maintained high readership by reflecting popular culture.
What encouraged a growth in leisure activities?
People had more time for leisure due to paid holidays, fewer people working Saturdays and end of national service.
How did leisure change during the 1960s - at home?
Traditional activities e.g. gardening and cooking remained popular and TV programmes reflected these interests.
Other hobbies e.g. knitting could be done while watching TV.
How did leisure change during the 1960s - out of the home?
TV meant attendance at live entertainment e.g. theatre and football matches fell.
But access to cars enabled people to travel easily to activities such a golf or shopping.
How did leisure change during the 1960s - holidays?
Britannia Airways founded 1964 to fly to Spain and Malta.
Traditional seaside holiday in UK not only option now.
Impact of scientific developments
Space travel 1961, moon landing 1969, Concorde (turbojet).
New tech changed everyday life by making cars, household appliances and transistor radios more affordable.
Introduced new fabrics e.g. PVC in fashion.
Made contraceptive pill available.
Medical - hearing aids, antibacterial drugs, better X-ray equipment.
Why was theatrical censorship abolished with the 1968 Theatres Act?
Due to PMB but also had support of Roy Jenkins.
Ended jurisdiction of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office for the censorship of theatre productions.
Disputes with the Royal Court Theatre which wanted to stage controversial productions e.g. Edward Bond’s ‘Saved’ in 1965.
Labour MP George Strauss launched PMB met with little opposition.
What happened with Film censorship?
Remained under the British Board of Film Censors.
However, film covered more daring themes such as adultery, abortion, illegitimacy e.g. ‘Darling’ in 1965.
On TV, BBC’s ‘Wednesday Play’ also covered these themes.
Why did Second-wave feminists feel unfulfilled and restricted in their lives?
Working mothers portrayed as unnatural.
By 1970, 28% of students women, but did not lead to greater employment opportunities, with only 5% of women in managerial posts by 1970.
Women generally paid less.
Key feminist texts published
The Feminine Mystique (Friedman 1963)
Women: The Longest Revolution (Mitchell, 1966)
The Female Eunuch (Greer, 1970)
What did the First Women’s Liberation Conference held in 1970 demand?
Equal Pay Free contraception Abortion on request Equal education and employment opportunities Free 24hr childcare
NHS Family Planning Act 1967
Allowed local authorities to provide contraception advice.
Matrimonial Properties Act 1970
Helped ensure that a woman’s role in the home was taken into account in divorce settlements.
Equal Pay Act 1970
Established the principle of equal pay for equal work although didn’t come into force for 5 years.
How did labour saving devices change women’s lives?
Freed women from drudgery of kitchen.
However, advertising of these reinforced the female role as housewife.
How did education/career prospects for women change?
Increased education and access to higher education encouraged women to develop higher expectations.
However, slow and difficult progress along career paths was frustrating.
How did the workplace impact women?
The increased availability of jobs gave women greater independence.
However, still responsible for home and children.
How were women liberated from unwanted pregnancy?
Greater control of family planning liberated women from unwanted pregnancy.
However, men could avoid responsibility for family planning.
How did divorce liberate women?
Easier divorce created greater freedoms.
However still a lack of economic independence.
What was the permissive society and what did people think of it?
Liberal changes in society.
Some argued society was better for being more liberal and tolerant.
Critics argued society was made worse by a decline in moral standards.
In what ways was society permissive?
The availability of contraception.
Easier divorce.
Decriminalisation of homosexuality.
No. of illegitimate births rose by 2-3% from 1960-1970.
Changing attitudes to sex exemplified by hippy emphasis of ‘free love’.
STI rates ^
Decline in censorship and rise in more daring themes in books, films, theatre and TV.
Drugs in popular culture with pop stars e.g. The Beatles using cannabis and LSD.
The Wootton Report recommended decriminalistion of soft drugs.
In what ways was society limited rather than permissive?
Catholic Church opposed contraceptive pill.
Mary Whitehouse’s ‘Clean Up TV Campaign’ launched 1964. She also established the National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association in 1965 to campaign against declining moral standards.
Rejection of the Wootton Report by Home Secretary James Callaghan.
Sentence for drug sypplying ^ to 14 years by 1970.
Most young people either virgins at marriage or married first sexual partner.
Young people used alcohol and tobacco more than illegal drugs.
