Deviance

Deviance is defined as behavior that does not conform to basic cultural norms and expectations, therefore what would you say is deviant behavior? Would it be smoking, drinking alcohol, fighting? We all have our own definition of deviant behavior whether it be based on our religious practices, our family values or the law. There are many acts of deviance seen day to day in our neighborhoods, our schools and maybe some things we have done on our own. I would like to share some things I have seen recently that I consider to believe deviant acts.


1. Abortion
The ability for women to choose whether a child will or will not be able to have life is an extremely powerful ability. There are millions of cases of abortion each year, many can and should be considered deviant. If a mother to be decided not to be, than that should be her decision, but unless the reasoning behind her choice is not selfish it is murder. There are many non-selfish reasons for an abortion such rape victims and the inability to develop babies properly. These are acceptable and not deviant behavior, but there are millions of deviant situations regarding abortions every year. Some may say a teenage mother is too young to raise a child, says who? However, if you can conceive it, than you have the ability to raise it. If a person takes the responsibility of sex lightly that does not give them the right to be a murderer. Many women waste lives each year to make their lives easier, and should be punished for this behavior.

2. Pedophilia
The American Heritage Dictionary defines pedophilia as: “The act or fantasy on the part of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with a child or children." We probably all have your own definition of this sexually deviant behavior, but no matter what anyone's opinion may be, one thing is true pedophilia is truly real and it definitely impacts the lives of not just the perpetrators and their victims, but also the families, friends and almost everyone else associated with them.  There are numerous examples in media of child sexual abuse. Pedophilia is a deviant act because its morally wrong to touch a child in a sexual way. There was a case last year about a man having sex with a newborn baby and the baby died instantly because her organs were damaged. The textbook says "a behavior is defined as deviant when it is marked publicly as deviant by those with enough power to enforce that designation." Sexually based offenses are considered deviant according to the law because under the age of 18 you are considered a child.

3. Underage Drinking
Underage drinking can be considered deviant because its breaking the law. Underage drinkers are more than likely be arrested, drive while under the influence, use illicit drugs, and have a sexually transmitted disease. It can lead to violence, crimes, mental health problems and may fatal and non-fatal injuries. Underage drinking can have many long term effects such as death and addictions later on in life. Alcohol is involved in nearly one-half of all murders, accidental deaths, suicides, crimes, and tragic car  accidents. The effects of underage drinking has on society are absolutely ridiculous . Studies show that, the younger a person begins drinking alcohol, there is a greater chance of them developing dependence on alcohol or abuse later on in their life.

4. Rape
Rape is defined as the unlawful compelling of a person through physical force to have sexual intercourse. Rape is considered sexual deviant behavior and should NEVER go unpunished. There are numerous stories everyday of a woman, teenager or child being raped and some stories don't even make it to the news. There can never and I mean never be two opinions about the criminal and immoral nature of rape. In my community a lot of girls and women are raped and its classified deviant behavior because its violating an individual and their say so in sexual intercourse. Rape cases happen everyday especially and poorer neighborhoods. There was a rape case that happened last year a 15 year old boy in queens was raping young girls and almost got away with it but he was later caught. The law classifies this as a crime therefore I believe it is deviant.

5. Selling Drugs/Narcotics
Selling drugs is very popular in my community. This act is deviant because it impacts the community in such a terrible way. When people are commuting to and from where they are going they see drug dealers selling drugs. They not only to sell to addicts but they get young children and teenagers involved in selling as well. They sell to women that are pregnant therefore the child that is born has drugs in their body or may be born with a defect. Selling drugs does a true disservice to the community and those that live in it. Addicts are everywhere begging for money, it makes the appearance of the community look awful. g use has been deemed by our society, or a significant part of it, as illegal, unhealthy and not acceptable. Society has deemed drug use and the selling of drugs as outside of the norms of acceptable behavior. It is illegal, an offence under law. Society has labeled it unacceptable therefore it is deviant.

6. Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting or imitating objects, statistics or documents with the intent to deceive. Forgery is very common today. In elementary school I always use to sign my mothers' signature on tests, forms and letters. I never realized it was deviant until I got caught and got in serious trouble in school. Forgery is deviant because your deceiving someone to make them believe its the real thing. Its closely linked to counterfeiting which more so involves with money.

All the acts listed above are deviant things in my opinion because it doesn't benefit people at all. I believe deviance is determined by the general population not one person or another. I strongly believe that deviant behavior is based upon ones cultural, religious and family beliefs. What you may think is deviant, I may believe is just fine. A lot of my belief of what deviant behavior stems from my religious views and what I believe to be immoral vs. moral.

The article - "Positive Functions of the Underserving Poor" by Herbert Gans was really about how the poor can tend to be placed in certain categories. They have many stigmas placed on them because they are poor and that they actually do a service to those that aren't poor. The five main points that stood out to me were 1) the criminal and deviant behavior among the poor is more poverty related rather than their own choices to do deviant acts based on values, (2) the label of the poor that classifies them to be undeserving is this old stereotype, and like all stereotypes, it definitely  exaggerates the actual dangers that stem from the poor; (3) poverty-related deviance is not necessarily harmful just because it does not accord with mainstream norms; (4) the idea of undeservingness survives in part because of the positive functions it has for the better population and (5) the only certain way to get rid of both this idea and the functions is to remove poverty. The article brings about a new way of looking at those in poverty, I myself realized that I have placed stereotypes on those that may be less fortunate because of what I see on the news or gossip that I overheard. Sometimes you don't know about something until you really investigate or find out about it.