Introduction
Sociologists define deviance as the violation of social norms (Henslin, 2012). Societies uphold social standards or cultural values (behaviors) known as social norms. Those norms vary from one society to another. This implies that deviant behavior in one society may be considered normal in another society. Therefore, when individuals choose to go against or stray from social norms, they are said to have committed deviance. Such individuals are referred to as deviants. For example, rejecting to follow traditions, religious beliefs, or formal rules result in deviance.
According to Henslin (2012), people associate deviance with crime and criminals, which is not necessarily true. This is so because the deviant might be right while the society is wrong. For example, Galileo, the renowned scientist, claimed that the earth revolved around the sun and not the other way round. This principle contradicted the teachings of the Catholic Church. As a result, he was considered a deviant, and the Roman Catholic Church forced him to denounce his beliefs to avoid torture. Later, it was discovered that his claim was indeed right. In addition, Jesus, the Christ, claimed that he was the Son of God. Moreover, he claimed equality of God which puzzled the Jewish religious leaders and the Pharisees of his time. Of course, he was right, but the society of the Pharisees charged him with blasphemy. Last but not least, murder, suicide, and theft can be considered deviant behaviors (Henslin, 2012).
Pros and Cons of Deviance
Deviance has both positive and negative impacts on society. For instance, it leads to affirmation, adjustment, and reaffirmation of societal norms. This is beneficial in situations where people are fond of breaking cultural values. It also leads to clarification of moral boundaries as individuals exercise social control in defense of their norms. It builds societal unity and encourages social change such as the civil rights movement and civil disobedience (Henslin, 2012). Moreover, deviant actions such as riots cause social reforms, and innovations and inventions. Henslin (2012) argues that knowledge development occurs within the society when some individuals decide to violate certain beliefs and practices that hinder development. For example, in most African societies, educating the girl child was against societal norms. However, when some individuals decided to defy this norm, change began to occur in many societies until nowadays some women are scientists and others innovators.
On the other hand, deviance leads to distrust. It erodes trust when individuals do not get what they expect to happen. This results in suspicion that spreads across society. It encourages other society members to misbehave if it is not corrected. In addition, it is expensive because it encourages people to divert their monetary resources into practices that may not be beneficial. Deviant behaviors such as prostitution, drug abuse, and protests consume valuable time that the police would use to deal with more serious issues (Henslin, 2012). Finally, legal deviance may lead to incarceration which may be a permanent consequence to the deviant.
Are Urban Street Gangs Deviant?
No. Urban street gangs are not inherently deviant. However, the majority of Americans see them as deviants. From a sociological perspective, not all gangs violate social norms or indulge in criminal activities. Thus, the street gang is not a collection of deviants, but an organization of individuals with values and goals to achieve in society. In the US society, socio-economic conditions have kept on changing and becoming worse for low-income earners. Therefore, street gangs exist in society to shape it or bring societal balances.
Reference
Henslin, J. M. (2012). Sociology A Down to Earth Approach (13th ed.). Boston: Pearson.