Social Developments: The Importance of Class in the 1950's Flashcards
What language variation was created by middle class people to aspire to a higher class?
Non-U language
What was significant about the existence of ‘Non-U’ language?
It showed that lower class people still felt it was important to be of a higher social position
What showed that people were overly conscious about their class by the sections in their class?
For most lower classes there were upper, middle, and lower sections
What percentage of people were middle class in a 1951 census compared to how people labelled themselves?
Census showed 28% were middle class. Surveys of people showed 40% were middle class
How were programmes on television changing?
They became more explicit in questioning the way that British society operated
What is an example of a film which emphasised reduced censorship?
A Taste of Honey (1958) by Shelagh Delaney
What was A Taste of Honey about?
A young woman who became pregnant after a relationship with a black sailor, the woman then gets looked after by a young gay man
What issues did A Taste of Honey cover?
Being a single mother, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage, interracial relationships
Which move became public in the 1960’s? How popular was it?
Lady Chatterleys Lover, selling over 2 million copies very quickly
What was a limitation to the social change?
Traditional people such as Mary Whitehouse attempted to ‘clean up TV’ for decades
What is ‘The Establishment’?
A group of the highest ranking people in society
Give 2 key examples of ranks in the Establishment?
CEO’s of large businesses, Politicians
What significant event happened in 1956 which resulted in a decline in reference? Why?
Suez Crisis. It exposed the lying and manipulation that the government did
Which organisation was set up with the sole purpose of challenging authority on big decisions?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
What scandal showed a change of attitudes in the newspapers?
The Profumo Scandal
