Social Change & Policy Development Flashcards
What are Values
Understanding right from wrong, personal values- things people feel is correct
Eg most people feel the elderly should be respected and that seats should be given up so
that they can sit down.
Eg ‘women and children first’
What are Norms
‘Normal’ behaviour in a society- social expectations that guide behaviour
Eg wearing dark somber colours to a funeral
What are Mores
Morals, or good ways of behaving
Eg taboo against incest or taking human life
How have Society’s views changed in relation to smoking
- Used to be advertised everywhere and was endorsed by doctors and celebrities
- 1930’s the Norm
- 1950’s research showed link between smoking and lung cancer
- Campaigns like ASH (action on smoking and health) led to legislation being introduced
- Health Act 2006 banned smoking in enclosed public and work spaces
- Children and Families Act 2014 prohibited smoking in vehicles when children are present
How has public perception on drink driving changed
1951- only 15% of house holds owned a car, not seen as a serious offence
1971- risen to 55%, this resulted in more deaths: from about 5000 in 1950 to 8000 by the 1960s.
What Laws were introduced for drink driving
1966 - Cars required to have a seatbelt
1967 - Road Safety Act introduced a blood alcohol limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
1968 - Breathalysers introduced, reduce road deaths by over 1100 and serious injuries by over 11000. Importantly, the proportion of accidents where alcohol was involved also fell, from 25% to 15%
1983 - High Risk Offender scheme was introduced for convicted drivers with an alcohol problem. The group includes drivers who have been disqualified more than once for drink driving
1991 - New offence causing death by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was introduced, with a compulsory prison sentence of up to 5 years. (In 2014, this was increased to
14 years)
The penalty of drink driving offence is now up to 6 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a drink driving ban for at least one year.
Campaigns that influenced public perceptions of drunk driving
1979 half of all male drivers
admitted drink driving at least once a week
2014 survey by the government’s
THINK! Campaign against drink
driving found that 91% of people
thought drink driving unacceptable, had adverts and posters, stating if your shit faced you shouldn’t be driving and to know your limits
How has LGBT rights changed over time
1500s
Homosexual acts punishable by death
1800s
Death penalty removed but still against the law for males to have sex (Oscar Wilde imprisoned for this in 1895)
1950s
Several high profile arrests for homosexual activity lead to public
discussion
1967
Homosexuality decriminalised in England and Wales; age of consent
set at 21 (heterosexual age of consent- 16)
1994
Age of consent lowered to 18 by Criminal Justice and Public Order
Act
2000
Age of consent lowered again to 16 by amending the Sexual Offences
Act 2000; brings it equal to heterosexual sex
2004
Civil partnerships legalised- Civil Partnership Act 2004
2010
Criminal offence to discriminate against someone based on sexual
orientation-Equality Act 2010
2014
Same sex marriage legalised- Same Sex Couples Act 2014
Why did society’s views on Homosexuality change
Cultural changes on the structure of society- more liberal people in the government and more rights and equality in general
Society is less religious now that ever before in history- many religions suggest homosexuality is wrong. Many people do not fear, or even believe in a god
Who was Alan Turning
- Math Genius who helped hack Nazi codes, saving loads of British lives
- Arrested for being Gay, and underwent chemical castration, and later killed himself as a result of the treatment causing him to be depressed
How has Society’s vies on immigration and racism changed over time
- Throughout the 50s and 60s it was legal to discriminate on grounds of race
1965 Race Relations Act – banned discrimination in public places and made promotion of
racial hatred an offence
1968 Race Relations Act – outlawed discrimination in employment, housing and public services
1978 Race Relations Act extended the law to cover direct and indirect discrimination
In 2010 the Race Relations Act was replaced by the Equality Act which brought together
laws on racial, sex, age and disability discrimination
