Society in the 1970s

• Feminist camps in the 1970s

  • Radical feminists
  • Socialist feminists
• Radical feminists


  • Emphasised the need for women to achieve autonomy over their own body
• Socialist feminists


  • Emphasised the need for women to be able to achieve financial independence
• Women's Lib groups


  • Started up across the country
• 1970 Miss World competition


  • Disrupted by protests
• Demonstrations


  • Held demanding equal pay and child care provision
• Progress for women in the 1970s


  • Contraceptive pill became more acceptable and widespread
  • Rape crisis centres opened
  • Domestic Violence Act 1976 enabled women to take out restraining orders
  • Women allowed to take out a mortgage without a male guarantor
  • 'Reclaim the Night' marches organised
  • Equal Pay Act 1970 came into force
  • Sex Discrimination Act 1975 made discrimination illegal
  • Social Security Pensions Act 1975 reformed state pension system
  • Employment Protection Act 1975 introduced paid maternity leave
  • International Women's Day established by the UN in 1977
  • TUC published a charter to improve women's position in trade unions
  • Women's pay went up from 59% to 70% of men's
• Limitations to progress for women in the 1970s

  • Trade unions suspicious of women in the workplace
  • Equal Opportunities Commission only launched 9 investigations
  • Only 10% of sex discrimination cases successful
  • Employers got around Equal Pay Act
  • Women's wages remained lower than men's
• Immigration into Britain in the 1970s

  • Events overseas led to influxes of immigrants
  • By 1974 a million immigrants from New Commonwealth
  • New arrivals tended to live in same areas
• Evidence of discrimination and social tension

  • Immigrant communities under-represented in politics
  • National Front gained popularity
  • Conservative Party gained after Thatcher's comments
  • Violent attacks on immigrants increased
  • Black youths felt harassed by police
  • Racism visible at football matches
  • Racist jokes acceptable in popular culture
• Evidence of improving race relations

  • Race Relations Act 1976 set up Commission for Racial Equality
  • Anti-Nazi League formed
  • Rock Against Racism campaign
  • Local authorities promoted multiculturalist policies
  • Black people more visible in popular culture
• Punk


  • Started in 1975/1976
  • Influenced by American bands like New York Dolls
  • Included Sex Pistols and The Clash
  • Embraced Nihilism
  • Led to moral panic
• Skinheads


  • Developed from Mod scene of 1960s
  • Tended to be working class
  • Initially influenced by Jamaican culture and music
  • Became linked to National Front and football hooliganism
• Growth of environmental issues in the 1970s

  • Formation of People's Party
  • Gaia theory
  • Public education including Life on Earth TV programme
  • Pictures from space highlighted Earth's fragility
  • Work of pressure groups like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace