Quality Street Context

Historical context- In the Regency era, Britain went through a period of elegance with
regard to Fine Art and Architecture. The Regency era could also be compared to the 1950s
for its significant social and cultural development.

Social Context- The 1950s saw a change in “high culture”, a time where fine art, decadence
and theatre that had previously only been accessed by the upper classes and those with money
were now going to be made more affordable to the mass audience.

Cultural Context- The product itself was designed and planned

for working families and the imagery is very aspirational of a higher class which links to the
post- war era in Britain. Much of the branding indicates that the product was symbolic of
elegance and aspiration.

What were women’s roles in society in the 1950’s?

-Women's main role in society in the 1950s was to take care of the family. Women were expected to be
caring mothers, hard-working homemakers, and obedient wives. "Modern mothers", as they were called,
couldn't have friends, jobs, or anything that would distract them from their duties from the house and
family.

What were men’s roles in society in the 1950’s?

-During the 1950s, gender roles dictated that men were the head of the household and the sole provider.

What was rationing and when did it end? What impact might this have had on people’s lives?

-Fourteen years of food rationing in Britain ended at midnight on 4 July 1954, when restrictions on the sale
and purchase of meat and bacon were lifted. This happened nine years after the end of the war. The
wartime food shortages forced people to adopt new eating patterns. Most people ate less meat, fat, eggs
and sugar than they had eaten before, but people who had previously consumed a poor diet were able to
increase their intake of protein and vitamins because they received the it

What was ‘consumerism’? And why did it suddenly start to rise in the 1950’s?

- Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in
ever-increasing amounts.
The Industrial Revolution fundamentally changed this and instead caused factories to be located in cities
and towns where goods could instead be produced on a mass scale. This led to consumerism because it
created the system in which people could reasonably afford a variety of goods.

When were credit cards invented and what impact might they have had on the way people lived?

- Credit cards were invented in 1958. This helped people to afford more goods.