theme 3 society in transition - 3A class and social values

Decline in deference

• high death toll (705k) shook the confidence the WC had in UC generals

• WC and Mc men interacting on an even basis in trenches

Decline in the upper classes:

• disproportionately high death toll in WW1

• Many aristocrats couldn’t afford their grand homes

• Some sold to the national trust or schools or hotels — some fell into disrepair

• HOWEVER the Duke of Portland owned 8 grand homes in 1914 and still maintained 4 in 1939

Greater equality

• 1918 RTPA

• People improved loving standards in interwar years - prices fell faster than wages in depression years

• Surplus income and could aspire to more affluent lifestyles

Housing

• owner occupiers rose from 750k in 1920’s to 3,250,000 in 1938

• Growing suburbs, car ownership, railway network

Metroland

Area of north London serviced by metropolitan railway and developed with houses built speculatively by builders who anticipated a ready market

Class and social values 1918-1939

• some had feared open class revolt - did not lead to social barriers or conventions significantly breaking down

• 1919 Govt feared revolt (Clydeside)

• 1926 (Gen Strike) The Times Newspaper tended to represent MC and called strikes unpatriotic class warriors

• ‘Class conflict’ was rare - late 1920’s strikes were in decline - Conservatives had MC and WC support

• The Great Depression undermined EC solidarity - Union membership declined - new jobs in the southeast and midlands - affluent and unlikely to strike

Mass Observation - impact of WW2

Reported frequently that WC wanted a more equal Britain post war

Some wanted a classless society

Evacuation, bombing and rationing caused class cooperation and interaction

ACTUALLY little social change - WC inner-city children evacuated to more affluent rural homes reinforced class prejudice

Post war attitudes

• 1945 Gen Elect - both parties campaigned on greater state intervention

• Labour govt nationalisation and welfare state

• Ideas of social class hadn’t shifted dramatically

Emergence of the liberal society 1951-79

• increase in affluence, leisure time, living standards, spending power

• Reform of laws that had been restrictive of private life and the development of a more liberal tolerant society

• Some voiced anxieties about the pace of social change, growth of materialism and consumerism

Decline in deference 1951-1979

• end of rationing in 1954 and relaxation of consumer credit enabled WC households to enjoy prosperity

• Challenged traditional ideas about community, social class and mobility.

• Challenged class system from a position of prosperity not poverty

Satire boom - Late 1950’s and early 1960’s

‘Beyond the fringe’ 1960 - subversive and popular - fierce controversy for making fun of establishment: the govt, army and UC

‘That Was the Week That Was’ - satirical TV show - David Frost - first time public saw political figures questioned on TV by journalists - clear change in public attitudes to authority

‘British new wave’ - 50’s and 60’s

Novels and films about WC coming to terms with the end of the old WC world and birth of new prosperity

Saturday night Sunday morning

Novel & feature film 1960 - angry young WC man Arthur Seaton, contempt for bosses authorities and community, amoral character but enjoys new consumerism

Both the book and films were popular and indicated that WX ideas about respect for authority and the older generations were in decline

Profumo scandal 1963

Sex parties at Cliveden, a stately home owned by wealthy Astor family, minister of War John Profumo had a sexual partner, 19 yr old Christine Keeler, shared with Russian Attache Yevgeny Ivanof

Prior to Profumo scandal about sex and establishment figures were routinely ignored by Brit press

Aftermath of Profumo

People were shocked as Profumo had denied such behaviour - resigned march 1963 - some believe the scandal led to the election defeat by 4 seats in 1964

People were shocked that establishment members acted this way and lied about it. Decline in deference

1950’s attitudes toward sex

Viewed that the state had a role in regulating private sexual behaviour, particularly homosexuality.

Sex education 1949

Less than 1/10 of the population had recovered any kind of sex education - little evidence that parents discussed sex with children

Venereal disease

Cases of Venereal disease were high until the discovery of penicillin, prostitution flourished during WW2

1950’s study concluded that — of women born between 1894 and —— had experienced ——

1/5, 1904, premarital sex