Increased Social Divisions Flashcards
(17 cards)
Context
Thatcher’s Aims
Britain was deeply divided, Thatcher wanted to create harmony
Believed in monogamous heterosexual marriage, wanted to end radical politically motivated groups
Thatcher’s Tactics
Prepared for conflict
‘Moral crusade’ brought her into conflict with minority groups
Race Relations
Initial Outlook
Believed culturally diverse society couldn’t be united
Deliberately used nationalist language - ‘Anglo-Saxon’ heritage and ‘remarkable qualities of the British’
Race Relations
Inaction
Didn’t reform discrimination in housing, employment, and institutions e.g police
‘New Cross Fire’ (1981) in London - 13 black teenagers killed, believed to be arson attack by National Front, but no police investigation
Race Relations
Uniformity
Stressed need for minority assimilation and adoption of ‘British values and customs’
Race Relations
Economic Policy
Economic policies created unemployment, and decline in industry
Disproportionately hurt black and Asian communities reliant on these sectors
Race Relations
Policing
Targeted disproportionately young black people in police initiatives
‘Sus laws’ eg Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) - expanded ‘stop and search’ powers
Race Relations
Aftermath of New Cross Fire
Became known as ‘New Cross Massacre’
‘Black People’s Day of Action’ organised by Darcus Howe - 20,000 people marched through London
Forced gov to acknowledge discontent, alerted media to discrimination
Largest black protest held in Britain to date
Race Relations
Operation Swamp 81
Extension of stop and search
Black MP Bernie Grant claimed was used to re-assert authority after day of action
Highlighted institutional racism, led to mass riots
Race Relations
Brixton Riots
March 1981 - Brixton riots
299 police officers injured, 100 cars destroyed, over 100 shops + homes looted
Riots in Moss Side, Manchester; Toxteth, Liverpool; and Hyson Green, Liverpool
Sexuality
Views of Gay People
Wanted to promote ‘family values’ - monogamous, heterosexual marriage
Believed there was a ‘moral decline’
Worked with gay colleagues, did not want to re-criminalise homosexuality
Sexuality
Laws
Section 46 of Education Act (1986) specified sex education promote ‘family life’
Section 28 of Local Government Act (1988) outlawed publication of material that promoted homosexuality or teaching about ‘acceptability of homosexuality’
Sexuality
Reaction
Activism increased
Ian McKellen and Peter Tatchell founded gay rights group Stonewall in 1989
Campaigned for repeal of Section 28, recognition of homophobic violence as a hate crime, and repeal of ban on gays in armed forces
Sexuality
AIDS Crisis
Survey in 1987 showed three quarters of British people saw homosexuality as ‘always or mostly wrong’
Thatcher promoted ‘safe sex’ and condoms
Women
View of Feminism
Disdain for feminist campaigners
Claimed they had ‘done damage to the cause of women’
Opposed positive discrimination or quotas, favoured ‘meritocracy’
Women
Women’s Role
Placed emphasis on roles in ‘nuclear family’
Accused of being a ‘woman not a sister’
Only appointed one woman to her Cabinet: Linda Chalker as Minister for Overseas Development
Didn’t reform system to improve access for women
Women
Protests
Conflict with feminist movements e.g ‘Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp’
Women-only protest against US cruise missiles
Tabloids + right-wing press were very hostile, calling campaigners ‘mad’, ‘unfeminine’, and ‘dirty’
Thatcher condemned protest, ordered eviction of camp by police in 1984
