3.6.3 Social change in the 1960s and 1970s

The 1960s and 1970s were a period of significant social change in Britain. Important legislation included the abolition of the death penalty (1965), the legalisation of abortion (1967), the decriminalisation of homosexuality (1967), and the Equal Pay Act (1970). The Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 made it illegal to discriminate against women in employment and education.

The 1960s also saw a cultural revolution. British pop music, led by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, became famous worldwide. London became a centre of fashion and culture. The 'Swinging Sixties' represented a break from the more conservative values of the post-war period. Mary Quant popularised the miniskirt, and Carnaby Street became a symbol of youth culture.