AC4.2 Explain how social changes affect policy development
Social Values
Definition
Example
The general rules for social conduct.
The elderly should be respected (and seats should be given up for them on public transport).
Norms
Definition
Shared social expectations that guide behaviour.
Example
In the UK we are expected to wear black for funerals, however in China the colour of mourning is white.
Morals
Definition
Morals and 'good ways of behaving' thought of in society as too serious to break.
Example
Knowing that murder and sexual offences are wrong and not carrying them out.
How have society's changing views affected laws regarding smoking?
In the 1930s, it was a social norm to smoke cigarettes.
Glamorised and encouraged by doctors.
Smoking indoors, restaurants, cars and around children was accepted.
In the 1950s, research showed tobacco leads to cancer and society became more aware about smoking.
2007, smoking ban came into force which made it illegal to smoke in enclosed public places.
How have society's changing views affected laws regarding homosexuality?
16th century, homosexual acts punishable by death.
19th century, death penalty removed for men.
1957, the Wolfenden Report concluded that the laws were an in impingement on civil liberty and that the law shouldn't intrude on matters of personal morality.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales in 1967, with the age of consent set at 21 years old. In 1994, the age of consent was lowered to 18.
In 2014, the law allowed same-sex marriage under the Marriage Act 2013.
How have society's changing views affected laws regarding homosexuality?
20th century, women had very few legal and political rights.
Suffragette movement fought for the right to vote, women rebelled against marriage and instead sought education and equality.
In world war II, women had to fill the roles traditionally occupied by men.
Equal Pay Act 1970 made it illegal to pay women lower rates than men for the same work.
Other areas to be considered
Domestic abuse
Previously a private issue, now a legal issue.
Ideas about what constitutes domestic abuse have changed.
Society's desire to prevent domestic violence has led to new legislation in the UK, particularly since the 1970s.
A multi-agency approach was implemented in the 1990s and is still used today.
Racism
Previously accepted as the norm.
Till Death Us Do Part (first screened in 1965) changed many attitudes towards race.
The 1976 Race Relations Act makes racial discrimination illegal in employment, education, training, housing etc.
Death penalty
Case of Timothy Evans (falsely convicted and hanged for the murder of his wife and daughter) changed public opinion regarding the morality of capital punishment.
Abortion
Secularisation in society.
Became legal in UK and Wales under the Abortion Act 1967.
Became legal in the Republic of Ireland in 2018.