Deviance Case

Deviance, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. The creation of deviance is seen as the responsibility of society; something is deviant only because people have been labeling it as so. Though deviant behaviors have been an ongoing occurrence in society throughout history, it seems to be more obvious in today's life. These unusual qualities are devalued and discredited by others in society. But even so, most deviant acts aren't illegal as mentioned in Chapter 6. Any action that does not conform to social norms such as being a nudist or organizing a hate group on the other hand, are illegal acts of deviance. Overall, any act of abnormal behavior that violates a moral or social rule and consequently, disapproved of by a large number of people, whether or not they are legal, are automatically labeled as deviant. 


It takes very little effort to be labeled deviant, especially because as humans, we are able to adapt to our surroundings, therefore aware of what's accepted or prohibited. So a great number of the time, we are well informed of whether or not we are deviant. We don't have to do, say or believe anything bad or wrong to be considered so neither. Any involvement in a stigmatizing minority group (Gay, Jewish, African American, for example) or even owning some sort of status that may not be considered "normal," instantly throws you under the category as being deviant. Many of these statuses include being mentally ill, disabled or atheist (unbeliever in God). Evidently, not all forms of what's judged to be as "deviant" are illegal. So what is? Many are but only slightly deviant or not deviant at all. Lawmakers make the decisions as to whether a deviant act is bad enough to guarantee official restrictions. If so, it becomes a crime. For example, sexual practices such as oral sex or masturbation, are illegal in several states only because lawmakers at one point found these sexual habits suitably deviant to be criminal and feel like anyone who performed these sexual behaviors should "pay his or her debt to society" with fines or prison terms, as stated in the textbook.

With that said, I understand that deviance is an act of rebellion against a set of rules. But in my opinion, for societies to run with some sort of order, the conflict of deviance is essential for any structure of social order. It is problematic because it causes a disruption, but it is important because it defines our boundaries as a society. It helps generate the idea of order in that defining what is real and expected, what is acceptable, and who we are. This is also done for understanding in opposition, what is unreal, unexpected, unacceptable and what doesn't define us as a norm. For example, to break a person's nose is not deviant if you are a plastic surgeon but it is if you are in a brawl. To kill a man is not always a crime, if you a soldier defending your country; it is honorable.

The location in which an act takes place can define whatever action it is as being either acceptable or deviant. For example, if a woman was on vacation in Spain, it would 
be perfectly acceptable for her to be topless. However, if the same woman was on vacation in Southport, even if it was a hot day, it would 
be considered deviant, and her actions would be frowned upon. In the New York State, much of the behavior we display is normal to us, but it may be deviant to others across the globe. Another example, women here may dress in mini skirts and tight tops that usually show cleavage, but when there is a great amount of skin showing, this would be unacceptable and deviant for Arabic women, who have to cover their bodies at all times in public. Also, in modern Britain it would