Near-revolution in attitudes to social and moral issues, 40-year survey suggests

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Attitudes towards many social and moral issues have undergone a “near-revolution” in recent decades, according to researchers behind a major survey – but more people now feel a person’s social class affects their opportunities in Britain. But when it comes to class, more than three quarters of the 2,175 surveyed last year for this section of the report said they feel a person’s social class affects their opportunities in Britain “a great deal” or “quite a lot” – up from 70% in 1983. The vast social changes that Britain has witnessed over the last 40 years have been accompanied by a near-revolution in attitudes towards many social and moral issues Sir John Curtice, senior research fellow at NatCen Pre-marital sex is seen as acceptable by 78% of the 2,239 people surveyed, up from 42% in 1983. That said, we still remain somewhat divided on some of these issues, such as on abortion when there is no concern about the health of either the mother or the baby.” Sir John Curtice, senior research fellow at NatCen said: “The vast social changes that Britain has witnessed over the last 40 years have been accompanied by a near-revolution in attitudes towards many social and moral issues, including sexuality and the role of women.