Question

Choose a form of deviance with which you are familiar (not necessarily something you’ve done, but something someone you know did) and discuss why society views that behavior as deviant and whether perceptions of that behavior have changed over time. Explain which theory of deviance you think works best for understanding the deviant behavior you’ve chosen to discuss.

Answer 1

Violence against partners is most common form of violence in society. This is called domestic violence or abuse. This type of violence occurs in intimate relations, where one partner uses violence as physical abuse, sexual abuse, or financial deprivation to maintain the dominance and exploit the other partner who is the victim. Mostly in such cases women are the victims and men are the perpetrators of such crimes.

Still in the recent past, when the gender differences had strong hold in the society, this type of violence was not considered as a serious offence. Because it was considered as a measure to check women in control and under subjugation. But, now this is considered as a serious offence to women with the awareness that they too are human beings and have equal rights as men have in the society.

This type of deviance could be best understood by Symbolic interactionism. As the behaviors are modeled when the children observe their fathers abusing their mothers in many forms. For girls they assume that it normal to be abused by male partners and they endure it because it has been in that way. For boys they assume that it their right to have control over women through violence when they are in relationship. Thus, this cycle of domestic abuse is carried on, and is a part of our society.