Question

Describe the ways in which deviance (or what is considered deviant) in a society is determined by culture/s and the process of socialization. What are three social issues/concepts that are largely considered to be acceptable today that were considered deviant in past decades and explain how that change occured. Give at least one example of something that is considered deviant in one of your social roles that is not deviant in another role.

Answer 1

'Deviance' is defined as a behavior or an action that violates the social norms. Norms are the unspoken set rules which the society or a certain group of people follow; people are guided by such norms. Deviance is basically violation of such norms, or uncomformity to such norms.

Norms differ from culture to culture, hence deviance would also differ from culture to culture. A deviant act in one culture where the social norms were broken might not be a deviant act in another culture because those social norms of the first culture might not be applicable to the social norms of the other culture. Hence, culture plays an important role in determining deviance in a society.
For example, In India, the cultural norm is to join hands and greet elders which symbolizes the sign of respect. If a person belonging to the cultural group of india does not conform with the cultural norm and does not join his hands while greeting, he is indulging in a 'deviant act' in that particular culture. However, in a western countries, there is no such norm. Hence, not joining of hands while greeting an elder in a western country would not be considered as a 'deviant act'.

Deviance in a society is also determined by the process of socialization. What is considered deviant in a particular social context might not be considered deviant in another social context. Killing a person under normal conditions is considered as a deviant act, however when the Government permits the same for self-defense it is not considered as a deviant act. There are different social groups that one plays a role in. What is considered deviant in one social group might not be considered deviant in another social group. For example in the social circle of friends, teasing and name calling another person(a friend) of the group would not be considered a deviant act, however doing the same with a person(mother) of another social group of family would be considered a deviant act.

What is considered deviant is not permanent. It keeps changing over the time with changes in the social norms of a particular society.

Three social concepts/issues that are largely cosidered to be acceptable today that were considered deviant in past decades are:

1) Homosexuality
Now the concept and idea of homosexuality is looked upon in a different light than what it was earlier. Earlier if someone was gay it was considered deviant as it was against the social norm of ''two people of opposite gender should be attracted to one another''. The norm has noticed a change over time and there has been a noticable acceptance for homosexuality in the society. It is no more considered a deviant behavior. The change has been brought about by people raising their voices against the previous social norms. Homosexuals are expressing their feelings openly, unlike the earlier times when they hid it. People started to think about it in a different light and consider it 'normal'.

2) Empowerment of women
Many decades ago, the world was far from equality. There was massive gender discrimination with males having the upper edge. Women were deprived of many rights that men enjoyed and if any woman tried to take a stand for herself or raise a voice, her behavior was considered as deviant. The social norms then were that women should not raise their voice and it was a known belief that men are superior than women. However, with changing times there has been a change in trend and now if a woman raises her voice or takes a stand she is not considered deviant. Such changes happened because of change in thinking of people, more educational opportunities to women leading to more independence in women which wouldn't let them stay under men's control or dependancy any further.

3) Married women working
Before the World War II, if a married woman went out to work it was considered a deviant behavior. It was a social norm that only males should work and earn and married woman should just look after the household. The trend changed during the World War II when women had to move out to work because their husbands went into the fighting army. It still took a long time after that for the change in mentality and social norms, however it did change and today it is no more a deviant behavior.

For me, as a football player I play a social role in a team of other players and running into someone while playing, such that the other person gets injured would not be considered deviant in that social context, however in my social role as a student if a similar behavior is acted upon another student, it would be considered a deviant act.