Permission and Regulation

First published in 1992, Permission and Regulation examines the period known as “the permissive age”: the 1960s. Perhaps more than any other decade in history, the 1960s have generated seemingly imperishable myths. This book seeks to separate myth from reality by focusing on a series of legislative changes commonly held to illustrate the permissive or liberal character of the era. Through central case studies examining the law in relation to abortion, obscenity, homosexuality, and prostitution, the volume casts doubt on the view propounded by politicians and moralists that such changes indicated moral relaxation and increasing sexual license. This work argues that the ideology of permissiveness requires close examination and analyzes the campaigns of Mary Whitehouse to pinpoint how this ideology was constructed, applied, and challenged. The final chapter compares the permissive era to the moral politics of the Thatcher decade. Challenging and informative, this book will be of interest to students of social history, sociology, gender studies, and politics.