society 1951-63 and youth Flashcards
society 1851-63
impact of war:
broke down class barriers, unity, never again attitude to hardship of 30s
austerity to affluence:
-austerity gave way to period of affluence 1950s, ended in 1955 with conservative gov due to post war-restrictions
housing
-mortgages: introduction = more affordable
-3 bed semi-detached Oxford sold for ^1655 in 1953 with a decent wage being £1k
-gorwth of suburbia: dream was to own a house in suburbs
-many local councils built high rise flats with no garages
-1.8m people lived in inner city slums
consumerism
-rise in real wages, TVs washing machines on hire purchase, family status means tested, advertisements on Itv every 15 minutes, clothes: classless society
women
-some found it liberating, others found it exhausting, paid rarely more than 60-70% of mens wages. many frowned on married women, 1951 BBC put out statement that radio news bulletins only for men
-marriage-bar gradually lifted (teaching 1944, civil service 1946,bank of England 1949). range of jobs low status, women’s amgazines role in house and teaching directed to sewing. equal pay for teachers and civil service 1954 and 55 most did not achieve
-freedom: opportunity to work. contraceptive pull in 1961, new modern houses easier to run. mid-1950s more positive and modern attitudes, 1957 1/3 went out to work
youth
-children in school until 15, influences from America, teddy boys (adopted aggressive attitudes to adult convention and behaviour), mods and rockers( scooter and suits, motor bikes and rock). margate and Brighton in 1964
immigration and racial tension
-after 1948, 250k immigrants arrived from West Indies and common wealth, lead to social change and tension, immigrants filled unpopular jobs (street cleaning), 75% male immigrants working to support fams
race riots
-oswald Moseley printed thousands of racist leaflets to exploit immigration. 1958 riots in Notting Hill and Nottingham altered perceptions, rate increased, 1962 commonwealth immigrants act limited immigration
