tide and KOTV historical context

Question 1

gender norms 1950s-60s

Answer 1

• after the war, people in mainstream western society wanted to return to traditional values and gender roles, so a lot of the independence women had during the war was abandoned
• the cold war, fears of nuclear weapons, and the fragmenting british empire made the uneasy peole yearn for a sense of stability

Question 2

what was family life like in the 1950s?

Answer 2

• there was a post-war economic boom in America which led to a thriving consumer culture wherein identity became linked to material goods. (including gender, hence the tide advertisement)
• suburbs were developed outside cities which had spacious estates of modern housing, as well as electrical appliances. women were encouraged to stay in these perfect homes
• teenagers began to rebel becuase they were encouraged by emerging advertising and pop music industries, and they felt that these values were old fashioned.
• hence, the home became a battleground between younger and older generations, traditional vs progressive ideas (this happened in the workplace too later)

Question 3

how did the values change during the 1960s?

Answer 3

• the liberal teenagers began to reach adulthood, which caused American society to change radically
• the values of the older generation were challenged by anti-vietnam war protests, civil rights and the second wave of feminism
• this wave of feminism criticised traditional ideas about femininity and male power structures that constructed them, they wanted legal changes to empower women (liberal feminism)
• The Women’s Liberation movement encouraged women to reclaim their sexuality, magazines capitalised on this empowerment
• however, many came out having lives that still conformed to traditional gender roles, which lead to mainstream culture portraying the sexual revolution as an attack on traditional american family life.

Question 4

key dates for women’s rights: I Love Lucy (first female-led sitcom)

Answer 4

1951

Question 5

key dates for women’s rights: Queen Elizabeth II crowned

Answer 5

1952

Question 6

key dates for women’s rights: first female judge in the UK

Answer 6

1956

Question 7

key dates for women’s rights: ITV broadcast ‘south’, the first ever gay drama in the UK

Answer 7

1959

Question 8

key dates for women’s rights: Birth control pills introduced in Britain and America

Answer 8

1961

Question 9

key dates: Doctor Who was first broadcast

Answer 9

1963

Question 10

key dates for women’s rights: Betty Friedan publishes ‘the feminine mystique’, which identifies women’s dissatisfaction with domestic life

Answer 10

1963

Question 11

key dates for women’s rights: Mary Quant designs the first mini skirt, Cosmopolitan was first published in the USA

Answer 11

1965

Question 12

key dates for women’s rights: Friedan starts the National Organisation for Women, campaigning legal rights and female autonomy

Answer 12

1966

Question 13

key dates for women’s rights: numerous court cases in US rule against gender discrimination in workplaces from heavy industries to government

Answer 13

1965-69

Question 14

key dates for women’s rights: Indira Ghandi becomes prime minister of India

Answer 14

1966

Question 15

key dates for women’s rights: Sexual Offences Act decriminalises gay sex between consenting male (21+) adults

Answer 15

1967

Question 16

key dates: first manned mission to the moon

Answer 16

1969

Question 17

McCarthy ‘witch hunts’ date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 17

fear of leftist ideology is spread, particularly communism
1950s

Question 18

Rosa Parks, date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 18

1950s

raising awareness of systematic racism

Question 19

Korean War, date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 19

1950-1953

widespread bitternes towards NK as western society was on the side of SK

Question 20

Sputnik: date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 20

1957

first artificial earth satellite, makes audiences believe we are in a futuristic and modern era

Question 21

‘baby boom’ date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 21

1950

audiences encouraged to have children believe the increase is prosperous after war, more housewives needed too, which causes an increase in traditional values

Question 22

cuban missile crisis date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 22

1962

contributes to existing fear of new warfare and conflict between the west and foreign countries, inhibits an already existing return to our ethnocentric western traditional values

Question 23

assassination of JFK date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 23

1963
fear of the peace being destroyed by conflict, lots of conspiracies and different people blamed, worsening stereotypes against groups

Question 24

civil rights act date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 24

1964
people may feel acknowleged in their sturggles and know that society is changing for the better
people know that discrimination is wrong once recognised by authorities

Question 25

space race date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 25

1955-75
hatred of soviet union, patriotism for america (brings along with it traditional ideals)
leads to dislike for communism and belief that the US and their ways are superior

Question 26

Chicago riots date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 26

1968
people realise there is a hatred for black people within society and inequality due to their clashes with the authority who have treated them unfairly
fear that peace is being threatened

Question 27

flower power date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 27

1960s-70s
the belief that war is wrong and we should have peace and live in a fair society- this would promote more progressive values because it warrants equality for all

Question 28

motown date and impact on audience’s values and beliefs

Answer 28

1960s
more exposure for black artists and an appreciation for their expression (great value placed by this record label on black talent)

Question 29

woodstock

Answer 29

1969
message of unity and peace spread despite the scale of the festival, more people may see and understand this vision