Topic 5: Social (1987-97) Flashcards
3
Describe the context of Section 28
- ‘Loony left’ councils accused of promoting homosexual lifestyles by funding support groups
- Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin where main character has 2 gay dads
- Tabloid outcry in 1986 after stored in London libraries
2
Describe Section 28 (Local Government Act 1988)
- Announced at Conservative Annual Conference in 1987
- Prohibited state schools from teaching homosexuality
3
Describe the impact of Section 28
- Campaigns for gay rights and equality intensified
- Greater participation in annual Gay Pride March in London
- Rise in profile of pressure groups such as Stonewall
1
What is a limit to fury of opposition to Section 28
Jack Cunningham for the Labour Front bench said the Labour Party did not oppose it at time of debate
2
Describe gay campaign groups 1987-97
- Outrage! used direct action - threatened to ‘out’ gay clergy and MPs
- Stonewall founded 1989
2
Describe Stonewall
- Backed cases at ECHR challenging unequal age of consent + ban on homosexuals in armed forces
- 1994, age of consent lowered from 21 to 18
4
Describe limitations in homosexual attitudes 1987-97
- Section 28
- Continuing AIDS stigma (Freddie Mercury died 1991)
- Age of consent not equalised until 2000
- Ban on homosexuals in military remained until 2000
4
List moral panics from 1987-97
- Rise in divorce rates
- Rise in illegitimate births
- Video Recording Act 1994
Most of these panics had subsided by 1997
2
Describe the rise in divorce rates 1987-97
- Hit record highs in 1990s
- 14.2% in 1994
1
Describe the rise in illegitimate births 1980s/1990s
- % of babies born to unmarried parents rose from 12% in early 1980s to 20% in early 1990s
2
Describe the reaction to changing childbirth/marriage 1987-97
- Tory Conference 1992 - Peter Lillet (Social Security Sec) sang song critical of youth pregnancy, absent fathers
- 1993, Child Support Agency set up to ensure absent parents paid child maintenance
3
Describe the Video Recording Act 1994
- Influenced by Mary Whitehouse work
- Ensured videos had British film classifications attached to them
- Expanded ‘vidoe work’ definition to video game market
6
Describe increasing criticsm of the Royal Family 1987-97
- from 1987-97, ¾ Queen’s children’s marriages broke down
- Annus horriblis 1992
- Diana publicly critical of royal family following 1992 separation
- Windsor Castle fire 1992
- 1993, Daily Mirror detailed telephone conversations of extramarital affair between Charles and Camilla
- Reflected general decline in deference towards establishment
3
Describe the Windsor Castle fire 1992
- Public disquiet about financing of restoration
- Queen agreed o pay tax on private income
- reduction in civil list
civil list - expenses of Sovereign paid for by government
3
Describe the aftermath of Diana’s death
- 32m UK audience watched funeral (broke record set by 1966 WC final)
- Queen accused of apathy amid public grief
- Public support of monarchy dropped to record lows before Queen statement