While reading Chapter 8 and the article "Positive Functions of the Underserving Poor: Uses of the Underclass in America" by Herbert J. Gans gives a clear idea of what is deviance and who labels actions to be deviant. Deviance is defined as behavior that does not conform to basic cultural norms and expectations. What is ultimately defined as deviance depends on the social norms at the time. While reading I started to think of different deviant behavior that is in my neighborhood.
1: Street Crime- The street that I live on has had many shoot outs in the past years. The adolescence doesn't view the gun play as crime but as a right of passage. I would hear them tell each other story about times in witch they shoot at the other guys from a block down as if it was normal. they don't take in to consideration that their acts can get some one kill they see it as they taking care of business.
2: Selling Drugs- Sad to say theirs more people that sell drugs then people that have career jobs around my way. Young kids that hang out with older men that sell drugs and they see it is the way they should live their life. Differential association theory this is because who they hang out with suggest that anthers deviance is learned through interactions with others involved with deviant behavior. Since it seems right to one person who they hang out with can pick up habits that is deviance but is accepted.
3: Homeless- This is another act that is view as deviance in society. People often give people who are homeless the stigma that they are lazy to find work, doesn't want to help their self, and living off the government. All to me to be labeling theory that is given to homeless with out finding out the true reason way that person is living on the street or is living off the government.
4: Using Drugs- This has to be the one prime deviant act that is done regularly with out being viewed as wrong. Young people in my generation has been known for smoking marijuana with out thinking that what they are doing is wrong. Secondary deviance is put on marijuana smokers because its seen wrong to begin with but in some parts of the U.S. its fine to smoke because of illness. Labeling people that smoke weed to all be bad is why secondary deviance happens because of the negative consequences of labeling.
5: Teen Parents- In the past 5 years i have seen teen parents face stigmas that what they are doing is wrong how they will not get though in life. I have friends that have kids and the first thought in my head when i found out was that they were not ready plus had nothing to show for it. But in different times i have been wrong for labeling because some have changed their life around since having a kid. I know young mothers that used their child as motivation when they didnt have any. I am not saying that having a kid at any age is fine but allow people to learn from their actions before criticizing them.
6: Medical illness- This may not be seen as deviant because one would think of the handicap. Then again think about the kids that have A.D.D or A.D.H.D. Kids that act up because of mental illness and they are consider medicalization of deviance. Their kids i see very day that is hyper to lazy because of medical reasons. They may not act the same as other kids so they are view as deviant.
Through out this whole reading I notice that different agents of social control that enforce the norms have the power to identify what deviant is. Then again they alway have the power to change the view on different deviance and make it a social norm. If we were to start changing norms and teaching the next generation proper ideas things as selling drugs can be looked down on instead of a way of life. Also kids wouldn't have to feel like they need to shoot some one for respect we can teach them to talk it out. As a community we have the power to direct the future and we together should think of the ways deviance is labeled so we can have a better Social Control.
social norms definitely play a large part as to what is considered deviant. i especially liked reading your number six example. sometimes we're limited to thinking that deviance is something a person chooses to do. whereas here you show that it could also be something you're born with.
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