Social and Cultural Change 1964-1970 COPY Flashcards
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.
How did the Ford women’s Dagenham Strike encourage the need for Equal Pay?
Women working there paid 85% of men’s wages, while at other Ford plants they were paid 92%.
Barbara Castle after this wanted equal pay for women. 1964 Labour Manifesto had called for a charter of rights for all employees. TUC followed this with a resolution in 1965 for equal pay for equal work.
