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Housekeeping Test in 1 week Gender, Deviance

Office hours Tues 2-4 EXTRA office hours Mon 1:30-3:30

Study guide is available online With highlights Important to read the chapters

thoroughly! Extra practice questions posted by

Monday afternoon.

Chapter 6: Deviance

n Terminology & Basics Role of Context Violation of Norms Levels of seriousness

Sociological Perspectives

Deviance: behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society.

Social control: techniques/strategies to inhibit deviance, enhance conformity

Formal Informal

Obedience: Compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure (more likely to be formal)

Conformity: Going along with peers that have no special right to direct behavior (more likely to be informal)

Non-deviant (conforming) behavior might result from:

Chapter 6: Deviance

Terminology & Basics Role of Context Violation of Norms Levels of seriousness

Sociological Perspectives

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Chapter 6: Deviance

n Terminology & Basics Role of Context Violation of Norms Levels of seriousness

Sociological Perspectives

Brings home Sociology’s contribution:

– Beyond individual in examining and understanding deviance

?

Another example of role of context and how should shape interventions:

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Consider use of Mau forest

Yes, formally “deviant”but most effective way to reduce forest pressure is not about laws

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Chapter 6: Deviance

Terminology & Basics Role of Context Violation of Norms Levels of seriousness

Sociological Perspectives

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• Parallel to cultural relativism?• To understand “deviant” behavior, view 

from cultural perspective?• Generate more informed, and effective, 

interventions?

More ex of “social construction” of deviance:

Naomi Wolf: “beauty myth”

vs. Nigerian “fattening room”

Deviance: behavior that violates standards/expectations.

“Empowering tool”

Deviance is relative across groups within cultures.

n (Phillips 1999)

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Consider PDA by sexuality

Stigma: Label used to devalue members of certain group

Social construction of “the family”

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• KEY POINT: Times change• And, therefore “deviance” changes

• Consider smoking

Anti-smoking campaign

Key: “Deviance” is socially constructed and, therefore, varies across cultures, groups & time:

•Appearance•Family form•PDA•Smoking

• By knowing what’s deviant, we know what’s not social order

• And only SOME deviance is criminal

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Chapter 6: Deviance

n Terminology & Basics Role of Context Violation of Norms Levels of seriousness

Sociological Perspectives