What are the norms? Norms are a culture's rules and expectations for "appropriate" behavior. Norms are set by those with power in society and are not fixed. Behavior that violates the norms of a culture is often labeled as DEVIANT.
Deviance is the behavior that does not conform to basic cultural norms and expectations. Chapter 8 is about Deviance. This chapter goes over the forms of deviance and what contributes to deviance and causes one to evade deviance also, agents of social control and what can change deviance.
Chapter 8 made me think a lot about my brothers. I have two older brothers. The eldest A, was the "good" one and then the younger one R was "bad". Throughout childhood R would always get into trouble, and was labeled as the bad child, he would steal, fight, and lie; he cause a lot of trouble. While A was quite, more involved with school with extra curricular activities such as sports. As R got older he continued to be known as the bad child this is referred to as the labeling theory; the theory that deviance is the result of how others interpret a behavior and that individuals who are labeled deviant often internalize this judgement as part of their self-identity. As he got older things only got worse dropped out of school, gangs, selling drugs, jail. The deviant behavior continued until the last time he was incarcerated, he stopped the life of crime; but instead of going back to school he settled for low rate, dead end jobs and months at a time of unemployment spending his days sleeping and gaming, being supported by the state welfare and unemployment, while he discontinued his life of crime, he continued the deviant behavior. Although R does not do illegal activities anymore his behavior as a unemployed man that can not support him self financially is not the norm, therefore this behavior is deviant. Meanwhile as A gets older although he continues to be known as the good child graduates from college moves out of the house is employed and supports him self financially he works two jobs to support himself, his family and his younger unemployed brother that lives with him. Being hard working and finishing school is the norm. My point if it is not clear is the labeling theory and the idea of norms versus Deviance is a working theory, and is experienced as a part of our everyday life.
Then there is the article that speaks on deviance and how class and race play an important role regarding power in society and in the justice system. They use example how class triumphs race using the OJ case of a prime example of how if OJ was poor he would have not been acquitted and the case would not have received any publicity. Even with drugs crack which is more affordable receives more time in prison rather than cocaine which is the pure more expensive substance. "Cocaine and crack differ only in the sense that crack is a mixture of cocaine and other materials, usually not controlled substances, that serve as a filler."(GetSmartAboutDrugs.com) In society deviant behavior and the stigmas that are attached to the behavior or the punishment given for violating norms vary in retrospect to race and class. I find that this true that class comes before race. If you are wealthy, you are usually better off when it comes to acts of deviance. Deviant behavior is often over looked, or the punishment is more lenient rather than as harsh, as poor and the people that live in poor communities which are predominantly black and brown people. The following quote with factual information confirms this "African Americans are victimized by robbery at a rate 150% higher than
whites; they are the victims of rape, aggravated assault, an armed robbery 25% more often than
whites. Homicide is the leading cause of death among young black men. Because we live in segregated
communities, most crime is intraracial; the more black crime there is, the more black victims
there are. But at the same time, the more law enforcement resources we direct toward protecting
the black community from crime, the more often black citizens, especially those living in the inner
city will find their friends, relatives, and neighbors behind bars." (Cole p.3) These are facts about how race and class prevent equality in the justice system and how stigmas, and punishment vary according to race and class.
Signed; The Outlook Blogger.
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