Was life better in the 60s?

What has changed?

What was better in the 60s than today?

Many people mentioned a slower pace of life. There was less pressure to succeed and lower expectations. Although the sixties was, in many respects, a modern, forward looking decade, it was very different from today. I often wonder if every generation looks back on the previous one and sees a simpler, less complicated life.

Less traffic and quieter roads were also mentioned a lot. There were far fewer cars on the roads in the sixties. However, this did not stop some horrendous traffic jams in the holiday season. People were prepared to travel through the night to avoid traffic black spots on their way to the West Country and were often found sleeping in their cars in the early hours of the following morning. However, most of our respondents emphasised how quiet the roads were.

Respect was mentioned in most responses. There was greater trust and neighbourliness in the sixties. Families did more together and there was a greater sense of family values. Religion was also more important than today (although even in the fifties less than ten percent of people went to church regularly).

Freedom from crime, or perceived freedom from crime was mentioned by a number of people. In the sixties, in some areas, you could leave your house unlocked:

"Children could play outside without too much worry"
there was "freedom to walk around without fear"
you "could trust people. Let children out to play without worrying"

Less crowded was frequently mentioned. There was more open space and green belt in the sixties than today. Many people missed open parks and common land. There is much greater pressure to build on land today than in the sixties.

Britain was cleaner in the sixties, there was less pollution and less noise.

When asked what was better today...

...there were four clear areas: better healthcare, more travel opportunities, technological advances and a freer, more equal society.

Although there were many medical advances in the sixties people today have access to much better healthcare, in spite of the NHS waiting lists. Many people felt that this was a significant improvement in their lives.

Travel opportunities and cheaper air travel in particular were mentioned by most of the responses. In the sixties, travel abroad was felt to be for the privileged classes only. Most people had to make do with a holiday in the UK.

Technology has improved considerably since the sixties. There were no mobile phones or internet access then. Although for many people most of the labour saving devices we use in the home today were available in the sixties, they were luxuries rather than everyday products. Automatic washing machines and dishwashers were for the few, rather than for the majority. Today most people can afford them.

Many of the social changes that began in the sixties were not carried out to their full course or universally accepted then. There is greater tolerance of different racial groups now than in the sixties and a greater recognition of women's rights.

The big question.....Overall, do you think life was better in the 60s than today?

This was a difficult question for most people to answer. For some the sixties was better, but only because they were younger. For others it was a case of "Yes and No". Technological change and greater social freedoms balanced the loss of community and a simpler life.

These are some of the answers:

Yes, but only because I was younger
Life was not so complicated in the sixties, but more physical as there were not so many household gadgets
Safer, cleaner and children could be disciplined
Less crowded
Work culture different
Difficult to equate
Less material
Better? Not sure!
Possibly life was slower
In a way, yes
Prefer 2004 - travel - equality TV, information, computers
Yes, but no responsibility then

"We need to re-evaluate post-war Britain. The 50s and 60s became more in touch with the spiritual and natural side of life. Life is far too commercial and 'consumer' now. The sixties were not so swinging just a reaction to the War and Victorian values."

"On the whole the sixties were happier times as it took so little to provide entertainment. Whereas today people have, so much and yet seem no happier and certainly don't seem to have the love of life we had. Maybe its because we'd won the War and were longing to see the benefits of peace and security. 1960 was only 5 years after all rationing ceased. "

"No the sixties were better. I think the teenagers of the sixties had the best of everything. War baby boomer's parents had nothing as children and wanted to shower their children with the best they could afford. The parents had broken the back of music resistance with Rock'n'Roll leaving the 60s wide open for a world change in music. And change it did, along came the pill, giving girls as much right to sex as boys, no more virgins to the altar! What more could you ask for, great music - free love and no really nasty diseases that could not be cured. These days it's not worrying about getting a girl pregnant - more are you going to die in ten years from aids? There is no contest - now can you turn me back to 16 please! "