Social changes 1951-1964 Flashcards
Possible exam question: “The decline in deference was the most significant social change 1951-1964” Give 3 other areas of change
Position of women
Race and immigration
Youth culture
What is the decline in deference and give 3 examples of it?
Decline in deference - people no longer blindly submitting to the establishment or higher classes
Profumo Affair 1963 - John Profumo had an affair with a east end model and prostitute and ended up involved in a russian conspiracy. Showed the higher classes weren’t any more proper, embarrassing as it was all over the press.
The rise of satire - Comedians like Peter Cook were on Behind the Fringe and private eye was published in 1961 - mocked those in high positions
Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament - in 1958 8000 marched against nuclear weapons - questioning political decisions and authority
What evidence is there that deference was still present in society?
The government make up didn't really change - was still made up by the establishment It mainly the working class who reviled against the establishment and they had been doing that already by voting Labour - 80% of the middle class still voted Tory
How did the position of women change 1951-64? + 3 examples
Life Peerages Act 1958 - women are finally allowed in the House of Lords - led to Lady Reading and Wooton
Teachers received equal pay in 1952 and civil servants in 1954 and more women were working than ever before.
Products for housekeeping changed women’s life and time spent in the home - with the number of washing machines and fridges owned rising by over 50% - Hotpoint called ‘The Liberator’
How did the position of women possibly not change that much?
Still only a fifth of women worked and 1.2% went to university. When they worked Trade Unions excluded them as they thought they lowered wages.
Society still prioritised the traditional role of women 75% were married in 1951 and a survey taken showed their days took the same form as a generations before.
How did attitudes to Race and Immigration change? + 2 examples
Due to British Nationality Act 1948 - 210,000 people arrived, largely West Indian men. This made the view of immigrants quite fearful despite them taking important low paid jobs.
There was an influence on youth culture - different foods were present and jazz music became more popular.
How can it be argued race and immigrant attitudes didn’t change?
Race Riots in Notting Hill 1958 showed racism was still prevalent in society and especially for white youths - “keep Britain white”
Politicians didn’t discourage these attitudes and limited immigration with the 1964 Commonwealth Immigration Act that limited people. The British Fascist Party also ran foe election in Kensington.
How did youth culture change 1951-1964? + 2 examples
Post-war baby boom had resulted in 5 million affluent teenagers - they had much more leisure time and money to spend so companies began marketing to them. Created the idea of a “teenager”.
Subcultures emerged like Teddy Boys who were associated with deference and crime. Mods and rockers clashed over music taste (Soul vs Elvis) and identified themselves through fashion.
Whose youth was less affected?
Girls were still largely tied to the home (as mentioned in women section) and were not as free as teenage boys were. Also media excluded them from the narrative as they weren’t in gangs like the Teddy Boys.
