Mary Whitehouse

Date of Birth: June 13, 1910

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: November 23, 2001

Biography

Mary Whitehouse was a British activist known for her staunch campaigns against what she saw as the increasing permissiveness in British media. Born Constance Mary Hutcheson in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, she initially trained as an art teacher, working in various schools before becoming involved in activism. Whitehouse first gained national attention in the 1960s when she started the Clean-Up TV campaign, which sought to address and curtail the perceived moral decline in television programming. In 1965, she founded the National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association (NVALA), later known as Mediawatch-UK, which became a prominent voice against the relaxation of censorship laws. Whitehouse was a deeply religious woman whose Christian beliefs heavily influenced her activism. She wrote several books and was a frequent guest on television, where she debated with various public figures about the standards of British media. Despite facing significant criticism and often being lampooned by the press and entertainment industries, Whitehouse remained undeterred in her mission. Her efforts led to some changes in television programming and policies, although she also faced accusations of being out of touch with modern societal values.

5 Interesting Facts about Mary Whitehouse

1. Mary Whitehouse’s activism began when she was a housewife and mother in the 1950s, concerned about the content her children were exposed to on television.

2. She famously took on the BBC and its director-general, Hugh Greene, accusing them of corrupting public morals.

3. Whitehouse’s campaigns led to her being a figure of satire, most notably in the British comedy series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.”

4. She successfully lobbied for the Protection of Children Act 1978, which made it illegal to take, distribute, or possess indecent images of children.

5. Mary Whitehouse was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for her services to television and public morals.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mary Whitehouse

1. “I believe that television and the media in general have a profound impact on society. They have the power to shape morals, attitudes, and behavior.”

2. “If violence and sex are constantly presented as normal, acceptable, and without consequence, they will eventually become so in real life.”

3. “We must stand up for the values that we hold dear, even if it means facing ridicule and opposition.”

4. “The family is the cornerstone of society, and it is under siege from various forms of media that seek to undermine its values.”

5. “Freedom without responsibility is chaos, and that is what we are seeing in today’s media landscape.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Mary Whitehouse was not known for accumulating significant personal wealth through her activism. She primarily worked as a volunteer and did not derive a substantial income from her campaigns. Hence, her net worth was modest.

Children

Mary Whitehouse had three sons: Paul Whitehouse, Richard Whitehouse, and Christopher Whitehouse. Her children largely stayed out of the public eye, although they occasionally supported her campaigns.