Society in transition 1918-1979

Question 1

Class, social change and the impact 1918-1951

Answer 1

WW1
- Sympathy between the classes due to the ww1
- Decline in the upper
- ROPA
WW2
- Class system remained largely intact
- In 1937, 250,000 homes built, improvement to living standards and equality

Question 2

The emergence of the liberal society 1951-79

Answer 2

• ‘Satire boom’ of the late 50s and early 60s - often ridiculed establishment figures
• British new wave - more questioning of traditional values
• Series of sex scandals in the early 60s - Profumo affair,,

Question 3

Family life, 1918-79

Answer 3

• Matrimonial Clauses Act 1937, allowed divorce in cases of unfaithfulness or desertion
  + Divorce Reform Act 1969, no-guilt divorce created a spike in divorce cases
• Abortion Act 1967, permitted up to 28 weeks if verified by two doctors

Question 4

Women in politics, 1918-79

Answer 4

• ROPA 1918 = voting over 30
• ROPA 1928 = voting over 21
• Early in period, under 15% of local councillors were female, and only nine women served Labour in the inter-war
• 1966 - only 21 were successful in election

Question 5

Women’s Liberation, 1918-79

Answer 5

• Dagenham Strike 1968, strike for equal pay at the ford factory. Unsuccessful, but influenced the passing of the Equal Pay Act 1970
• Feminist literature, e.g. The Eunuch
• Issues - some women simply wanted more respect from their husbands, others saw men as the enemy. Large divisions.
• Also Mary Whitehouse, who promoted the role of women as mothers and homeowners
• EQUAL PAY ACT 1970 - was a requirement for joining the EEC. But, women were told they weren’t doing ‘equal work’ and were still paid less
• SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 - EOC to ensure fair employment practices, tribunals to deal with sexual harassment in + out of workplace