In defence of white freedom: Working men’s clubs and the politics of sociability in late industrial England

Camilla Schofield

doi:10.1093/tcbh/hwad038

In defence of white freedom: Working men’s clubs and the politics of sociability in late industrial England

Camilla Schofield

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

80 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

While ongoing discrimination in jobs, welfare, and housing in 1970s England belied the social democratic promise of 'equality of opportunity' and the much-touted British value of 'fair play', racism at the door of the working men's club told a different story. For reactionaries and liberals alike, it spoke to the uncertain future of working-class politics in late industrial England. This article shows how the legal and political controversies surrounding whites-only working men's clubs contribute to our understanding of the 'white working class' as a political subject in British public life. Even more, it reveals how - among club members - whiteness came to be invested with feelings of intimacy, kinship, respectability, and independence.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	515–551
Number of pages	37
Journal	Twentieth Century British History
Volume	34
Issue number	3
Early online date	6 Jun 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/tcbh/hwad038
Publication status	Published - Sept 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

white working class
race
Deindustrialisation
Discrimination
British Politics
trade unions

Access to Document

10.1093/tcbh/hwad038Licence: CC BY

hwad038Final published version, 416 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "While ongoing discrimination in jobs, welfare, and housing in 1970s England belied the social democratic promise of 'equality of opportunity' and the much-touted British value of 'fair play', racism at the door of the working men's club told a different story. For reactionaries and liberals alike, it spoke to the uncertain future of working-class politics in late industrial England. This article shows how the legal and political controversies surrounding whites-only working men's clubs contribute to our understanding of the 'white working class' as a political subject in British public life. Even more, it reveals how - among club members - whiteness came to be invested with feelings of intimacy, kinship, respectability, and independence.",

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language = "English",

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N2 - While ongoing discrimination in jobs, welfare, and housing in 1970s England belied the social democratic promise of 'equality of opportunity' and the much-touted British value of 'fair play', racism at the door of the working men's club told a different story. For reactionaries and liberals alike, it spoke to the uncertain future of working-class politics in late industrial England. This article shows how the legal and political controversies surrounding whites-only working men's clubs contribute to our understanding of the 'white working class' as a political subject in British public life. Even more, it reveals how - among club members - whiteness came to be invested with feelings of intimacy, kinship, respectability, and independence.

AB - While ongoing discrimination in jobs, welfare, and housing in 1970s England belied the social democratic promise of 'equality of opportunity' and the much-touted British value of 'fair play', racism at the door of the working men's club told a different story. For reactionaries and liberals alike, it spoke to the uncertain future of working-class politics in late industrial England. This article shows how the legal and political controversies surrounding whites-only working men's clubs contribute to our understanding of the 'white working class' as a political subject in British public life. Even more, it reveals how - among club members - whiteness came to be invested with feelings of intimacy, kinship, respectability, and independence.

KW - white working class

KW - race

KW - Deindustrialisation

KW - Discrimination

KW - British Politics

KW - trade unions

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DO - 10.1093/tcbh/hwad038

M3 - Article

SN - 0955-2359

VL - 34

SP - 515

EP - 551

JO - Twentieth Century British History

JF - Twentieth Century British History

IS - 3

ER -

In defence of white freedom: Working men’s clubs and the politics of sociability in late industrial England

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

When Racism Became Taboo: Intolerance, Anonymity and the Public Sphere in England, 1960-1990

Decolonising Europe

Cite this

In defence of white freedom: Working men’s clubs and the politics of sociability in late industrial England

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

When Racism Became Taboo: Intolerance, Anonymity and the Public Sphere in England, 1960-1990

Activities

Decolonising Europe

Cite this