half term 1 pt2 content Flashcards
(62 cards)
what is the establishment?
describes the dominant social group, the elite who control government/politics, or an institution
- henry fairlie popularised ‘the establishment’ as a term through his job of journalism
what is deference?
describes polite submission and gestures of respect
how did the press coverage of scandals challenge the legitimacy of government?
- led to a decline in deference
- realisation the government is corrupt morally and causes disillusionment from the government
- exposes upper classes and their morals
- gov fail to control media
how did the satire boom challenge the governments legitimacy?
examples:
‘’beyond the fringe’, ‘private eye’ headlines and ‘that was the week that was’
- normalisation of joking about government performance
- decline of deference
- created negative reputation of the government
- TV ownership in homes increased accessibility to critical materials
how did critics of the establishment challenge government legitimacy?
- commented GB was being held back by the ‘ruling elite’
- perception of the ‘ruling elite’ included: emphasised arts education in preference to stem. Blocked talent from outside the establishment
- gives ideas of corruption to the public, painting the picture of ‘out of touch’ rulers
- aristocratic connotations allow further disillusionment
how did social scientists investigating into class challenge the governments legitimacy?
- provided evidence of the heavily classed society and the lack of nobility
- argued GB needed rulers who earnt their positions and better understood the modern era
- critical that most govs were run by upper educated classes that had ‘high’ social links
- such as ‘old boys network’ - old etonian scheme, providing evidence for the ‘class ridden’ society
how did ‘angry young men’ challenge the legitimacy of the government?
- group of writers rebelled against traditional theatre and literature
- attacked behaviours of upper and upper middle classes with the play ‘look back in anger’ in 1956
- was seen as controversial and sarcastic
-seen as an attack on aristocratical and established classes
examples of continuity of attitudes towards women
- temporary work contracts once pregnant in jobs
- acceptance of a pay gap
- abortion illegal, only contraception was condoms, no pill yet
- 1951, 20% had a job
- only 10% of this figure was in skilled work (civil service, unis and legal professions)
- trade unions tended not to support women as it was thought it would lead to working men loosing pay
- ‘marriage bar’ , an expectation to stop work once married
- women unable to open a bank in their name until 1975, male member of family’s signature still required.
- 1946 women received family allowance, reinforcing ideas that it is the woman’s responsibility to care for children
- mortgages and bank accounts held by men
examples of change in attitudes towards women
- made up 30% of the workforce
- family allowance recognised a woman’s struggle
- limited equal pay legislation for teachers (1952) and civil servants (1954)
- liberator made life easier, 54% rise in washing machine ownership
- end of rationing meant end of queuing for food
- fridge invention meant regular food shops were less necessary
examples of youth association with violence
- brighton beach violence, 59 arrested for throwing stones. Rockers vs mods. prison sentences and £5 fines
- imaged to be carrying flick knives
- teddy boys notorious for violence after murder on Clapham Common 1953 and association with nottinghill race riots
examples of ‘juvenile delinquency’ and ‘moral panic’
- teenage convictions doubled between 1955 and 1959
- became a metaphor for the supposed collapse of standards/deference
- proposed detention centres to be built
- speculation of corporal punishment being reintroduced (whipping)
- 20% of girls were pregnant before marriage
- those between 14 and 17 convicted of serious crimes more than doubled in this time period
examples of continuity of traditionalist ideas amongst young people
- teddy boys were a relatively short phenomenon
- mods slowly took over the teds, a smart ‘chic’ dress
- mid 1960s, brit teens seen as unexciting compared to american teens
- biggest selling albums were south pacific and my fair lady and not elvis presley
- weekly church attendance remained high (10m a week by 1960 out of a population of 51m)
- average age for marriage was 20 for women and 23 for men
- average age for children was 24
- therefore not a rebellious of tradition bursting generation
examples of demographic changes in relation to the emergence of the teenage market
- ability to leave school at 14
- education increasing in quality
- baby boom post-war
- youth cultures: rockers, teddy boys and mods
- 5 million teens 1959
- 10% population
examples of change in disposable income in relation to the emergence of the teenage market
- the rise of the cinema
- 5% market was teens
- increase in income
- records and clothes
- parents able to give money due to affluence
change in free time in relation to the emergence of the teenage market
- listening to music via radios
- new labour saving devices for women and end of national service in 1960
examples of influence of the USA in relation to the emergence of the teenage market
- folk and rock ‘n roll music
- american singers and celebrities
- monroe and presley
- teenage horror films
examples of market products aimed at teenagers
- radios
- marketted movies (biker, beach, rock ‘n roll)
- relatable celebs
- teenage torture films (horror)
- teens owning cars and motorbikes
- transistor invention helped the spread of trends
teddy boys info
- associated with juvenile delinquency and rising crime
- seen as a worrying phenomenon
- derived from edwardian fashion
- known to be ignorant and obsessed with money
- affiliation to race riots and clapham murder
mods info
- rode scooters
- wore smart suits
- italian influence
- transistor radios
- known to be hooligans
rockers info
- rode heavy bikes, wore leather jackets and listened to rock ‘n roll music
- influenced by the elvis look and american icons
- seen as out of date to mods
- seen as dirty and scruffy
why was there so much immigration into Britain in the 1950s?
- shortage of labour: due to post-war. Needed low-skilled low paid workers
- recruitment campaigns by british firms: NHS, textile workers, London transport
- opportunities for immigrants: seen as the ‘mother country’ as an opportunity for good wages. Earlier immigrants were male and aimed to work in Britain for a short period while sending money back home to their families
- encouragement and support for immigrants: some given interest free-loans from their own government for travel costs. London transport provided hostels for many immigrants they recruited
immigrant experience in political developments
- ‘keep britain white’ slogan adapted by national front
- white defence league set up (oswold mosley), seen as neo-nazi, racist and antisemitic
- trade unions began to complain about immigrants taking people’s jobs
immigrant experience in employment
- mainly in NHS and transport
- trade unions were anti-immigrant
- many had multiple jobs ‘all cheap labour’
- racism, abuse and ignorance in the NHS
- highly skilled workers qualifications not recognised in GB, hence low skilled employment
- poor pay, £6.13 weekly
immigrant experience in with stereotypes
- newspapers exaggerated their lack of cleanliness, criminality and sexual practices
- straining housing and education
- acceptance of low skilled work
- seen to be stealing women and work
- culture of drinking, music, clubs, gambling, drug-taking and prostitution