The Winter of Discontent: Myth, Memory, and History | Liverpool Scholarship Online (2024)

Online ISBN:

9781781381588

Print ISBN:

9781781380291

Publisher:

Liverpool University Press

Book

Get access

Tara Martin López

Tara Martin López

Professor of Sociology

Peninsula College

Find on

Oxford Academic

Published:

1 November 2014

Online ISBN:

9781781381588

Print ISBN:

9781781380291

Publisher:

Liverpool University Press

  • Cite Icon Cite

Cite

Martin López, Tara, and Sheila Rowbotham, The Winter of Discontent: Myth, Memory, and History (Liverpool, 2014; online edn, Liverpool Scholarship Online, 22 Jan. 2015), https://doi.org/10.5949/liverpool/9781781380291.001.0001, accessed 18 July 2024.

Close

Search

Close

Search

Advanced Search

Search Menu

Abstract

In the midst of the freezing winter of 1978-79, more than 2,000 strikes, infamously coined the “Winter of Discontent,” erupted across Britain as workers rejected the then Labour Government’s attempts to curtail wage increases with an incomes policy. Labour’s subsequent electoral defeat at the hands of the Conservative Party, under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, ushered in an era of unprecedented political, economic, and social change for Britain.A potent social myth also quickly developed around the Winter of Discontent, one where “bloody-minded” and “greedy” workers brought down a sympathetic government and supposedly invited the ravages of Thatcherism upon the British labour movement. This work provides a re-examination of this crucial series of events in British history by charting the construction of the myth of the Winter of Discontent. The author then highlights key strikes and brings forward the previously-ignored experiences of female, black, and Asian rank-and-file workers and local trade union leaders involved in the disputes. By placing their experiences within a broader constellation of trade union, Labour Party, and Conservative Party changes in the 1970s, striking workers’ motivations become much more textured and complex than the “bloody-minded” or “greedy” labels imply. The author will further illustrate that participants’ memories represent a powerful force of “counter-memory,” which for some participants, frame the Winter of Discontent as a positive and transformative series of events, especially for some of the growing number of female activists. Overall, the investigation illuminates the nuanced contours of myth, memory, and history of the Winter of Discontent.

Keywords: Winter of Discontent, Labour Party, strikes, Britain, Margaret Thatcher, women workers, black workers, Asian workers, counter-memory, myth

Subject

Modern History (1700 to 1945)

Contributor:

Sheila Rowbotham

Sheila Rowbotham

(contributor)

Professor of History

University of Manchester

Find on

Oxford Academic

Contents

Sign in

Get help with access

Personal account

  • Sign in with email/username & password
  • Get email alerts
  • Save searches
  • Purchase content
  • Activate your purchase/trial code
  • Add your ORCID iD

Sign in Register

Institutional access

    Sign in through your institution

    Sign in through your institution

  1. Sign in with a library card
  2. Sign in with username/password
  3. Recommend to your librarian

Institutional account management

Sign in as administrator

Get help with access

Institutional access

Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:

IP based access

Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.

Sign in through your institution

Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.

  1. Click Sign in through your institution.
  2. Select your institution from the list provided, which will take you to your institution's website to sign in.
  3. When on the institution site, please use the credentials provided by your institution. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
  4. Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.

If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.

Sign in with a library card

Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.

Society Members

Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:

Sign in through society site

Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:

  1. Click Sign in through society site.
  2. When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
  3. Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.

If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.

Sign in using a personal account

Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.

Personal account

A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.

Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.

Viewing your signed in accounts

Click the account icon in the top right to:

  • View your signed in personal account and access account management features.
  • View the institutional accounts that are providing access.

Signed in but can't access content

Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.

Institutional account management

For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.

Purchase

Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.

Purchasing information

Citations

Views

199

Altmetric

More metrics information

Metrics

Total Views 199

144 Pageviews

55 PDF Downloads

Since 10/1/2022

Month: Total Views:
October 2022 2
October 2022 1
October 2022 1
October 2022 6
November 2022 2
November 2022 1
November 2022 2
December 2022 2
December 2022 2
December 2022 3
December 2022 2
January 2023 2
February 2023 3
February 2023 1
February 2023 12
February 2023 8
February 2023 7
February 2023 2
March 2023 1
March 2023 4
March 2023 1
March 2023 1
March 2023 3
March 2023 4
April 2023 1
May 2023 3
June 2023 2
September 2023 1
September 2023 2
September 2023 1
September 2023 3
October 2023 2
October 2023 2
November 2023 3
November 2023 4
November 2023 1
November 2023 2
November 2023 4
November 2023 4
December 2023 1
December 2023 2
December 2023 2
January 2024 4
January 2024 2
January 2024 6
January 2024 1
January 2024 2
February 2024 1
February 2024 8
February 2024 4
February 2024 5
February 2024 2
February 2024 1
March 2024 4
March 2024 1
March 2024 3
April 2024 1
April 2024 2
April 2024 9
April 2024 2
April 2024 1
April 2024 1
May 2024 2
May 2024 3
May 2024 2
May 2024 4
June 2024 4
June 2024 2
June 2024 1
June 2024 2
June 2024 1
June 2024 5

Citations

Powered by Dimensions

Altmetrics

×

More from Oxford Academic

Arts and Humanities

History

History by Period

Modern History (1700 to 1945)

Books

Journals

The Winter of Discontent: Myth, Memory, and History | Liverpool Scholarship Online (2024)

References

Top Articles
How to Make Blueberry Pie from Scratch
Blackberry Pie Recipe - Preppy Kitchen
AMC Theatre - Rent A Private Theatre (Up to 20 Guests) From $99+ (Select Theaters)
Palm Coast Permits Online
Www.craigslist Virginia
Manhattan Prep Lsat Forum
Craigslist Cars And Trucks For Sale By Owner Indianapolis
Tj Nails Victoria Tx
Undergraduate Programs | Webster Vienna
Www.craigslist Augusta Ga
360 Training Alcohol Final Exam Answers
5 Bijwerkingen van zwemmen in een zwembad met te veel chloor - Bereik uw gezondheidsdoelen met praktische hulpmiddelen voor eten en fitness, deskundige bronnen en een betrokken gemeenschap.
Plus Portals Stscg
Top Golf 3000 Clubs
World of White Sturgeon Caviar: Origins, Taste & Culinary Uses
Craigslist Estate Sales Tucson
TS-Optics ToupTek Color Astro Camera 2600CP Sony IMX571 Sensor D=28.3 mm-TS2600CP
Nalley Tartar Sauce
How to find cash from balance sheet?
Missed Connections Dayton Ohio
Truck Trader Pennsylvania
Louisiana Sportsman Classifieds Guns
Blackwolf Run Pro Shop
Best Forensic Pathology Careers + Salary Outlook | HealthGrad
Swgoh Turn Meter Reduction Teams
Jbf Wichita Falls
Big Lots Weekly Advertisem*nt
Craigslist Maryland Trucks - By Owner
Wiseloan Login
Best Boston Pizza Places
Craigslist Panama City Beach Fl Pets
Sessional Dates U Of T
Foodsmart Jonesboro Ar Weekly Ad
Harrison County Wv Arrests This Week
Umn Biology
King Soopers Cashiers Check
County Cricket Championship, day one - scores, radio commentary & live text
Wasmo Link Telegram
Agematch Com Member Login
Otter Bustr
Marcus Roberts 1040 Answers
Gold Dipping Vat Terraria
Silive Obituary
Ds Cuts Saugus
Sour OG is a chill recreational strain -- just have healthy snacks nearby (cannabis review)
Content Page
Reilly Auto Parts Store Hours
The Latest Books, Reports, Videos, and Audiobooks - O'Reilly Media
Acuity Eye Group - La Quinta Photos
Bradshaw And Range Obituaries
Psalm 46 New International Version
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Moshe Kshlerin

Last Updated:

Views: 6496

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Moshe Kshlerin

Birthday: 1994-01-25

Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697

Phone: +2424755286529

Job: District Education Designer

Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Moshe Kshlerin, I am a gleaming, attractive, outstanding, pleasant, delightful, outstanding, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.