Labeling and Social Norms

                                                 Labeling and Social Norms 

                                                              Jennifer Silvius 

                                                        Wilmington University 

                                                                 CRJ/205

Labeling and Social Norms 

                                                 Abstract: 

There are many acts today that are considered to be deviant behavior. Some of these acts are protesting in the street naked or going out and buying a fur coat to meet social status. Whether these acts are considered to be deviant depends entirely on the social norms that are around the individual. There are parts of the world where it is considered a celebration of sexuality to walk around naked, or it is a statement or act of protest to be naked. There are also parts of the country where wearing a fur coat shows wealth, where other parts of the country or world see it as an act of violence against animals. What is being discussed is what causes these acts to be seen as deviance? Is it right to label someone because of what is believed to be a norm within their society? Are they genuinely being deviant, or are they normal?

        Deviance is something we all see every day. It can be while we are walking down the street and see someone running out of a store after stealing a candy bar, it can be the homeless person drinking his beer in front of the liquor store, or it can be the guy selling drugs on the corner. However, what is the definition of deviance? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "Deviant is someone who deviates from the norm. They are straying away from what is considered acceptable behavior" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, n.d.). This brings back the question of if stealing, selling drugs, and drinking in front of the store is considered normal in this society, is the person a deviant? Furthermore, if someone is wearing a fur coat and are from a prominent area or is protesting naked in an area such as San Francisco, California, are they genuinely deviant? Is it possible they are falsely being labeled because of what society thinks one's norms should be? People are constantly adapting and conforming to society's beliefs. What may be considered a social norm in one area may be disturbing and controversial in another.

        What exactly is considered a social norm? How does one determine what is standard in the society that one lives in? Is it written out? Not always; social norms are not written rules. They are beliefs and attitudes of the culture one lives in. With social norms, the culture and social group decide what is acceptable and what is not. People are then able to figure out how they are supposed to behave in this society formed by the social norm (McLeod, 1970). The fact that there are so many different social norms around the globe causes much confusion. There are debates about what should be allowed and what should not. Due to the constant debate of what is considered acceptable and what is not, people are labeled deviant in their behavior. Some believe that labeling people deviant causes them to become deviant as it has become their very nature because of the label (Libretexts, 2021).

        Labeling theory hypothesis that people live according to their labels. For example, if someone has been labeled a stoner, they will be a stoner because that is what society sees them as. The theory believes that once the person is labeled with deviant behavior, the person has no choice but to continue with that particular behavior that is disapproved of. However, it is also believed that if a person is not labeled (which is often due to stereotypes) or shamed for their behavior, they will not, in turn, become a deviant. It is also believed in Deviant behavior that there are two kinds of labeling hard labeling and soft labeling. People who believe in hard labeling do not believe in mental illness. Hard labeling believes that deviance stems from their society's norms. Therefore they become their society. Soft labeling believes that it is possible that the actions of deviance can be a result of mental illnesses. With labeling theory, people are given their labels based on others' observations of behaviors (Libretext, 2021).

         There are situations, however, that norms can have exceptions. For example, the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco, California, would be considered an act of deviance on a typical day. However, at the`       end of September every year, being naked, having sex on the street, and displaying sex toys is seen as a celebration of sexuality and fetish. It is perfectly legal and is a world-known event. As of 2011, 40,000 people worldwide came to the Folsom Street fair, making it the largest leather/fetish event in the world? This event precedes Leather pride week and is all about being proud of one's sexuality and fetish. Though many people travel to spectate, most of the attendees believe that leather and kink and fetish is their way of life and see this fair as a way to celebrate it (LeTigre, 2011). As one walks the streets, there are police watching the area, and a person cannot enter the fair without first being searched. Also, one will find places where they can legally disrobe and have their clothes secured so when they are ready to leave the fair; they can put clothes on so they will be socially acceptable. How is this legal? Because it is a celebration and because of permits that have to be held, San Francisco does not qualify this behavior Deviant on the day of the parade as long as it stays within the streets designated to it (Placzeck, 2017).

        Another example of nudity and deviance is an event that happened in Brazil back in 2007. There was a massive protest, mainly by men, because a lady was treated poorly by the police after being arrested for bathing naked in public. People came to the streets naked, saying that it was not about the body but about being human. The fact the lady was naked when she was arrested had nothing to do with sexuality. The police stated that it was not because the woman was naked because of the location she was naked. Because she was naked in an area that was not approved, she was arrested. The lady was thereby labeled deviant by the police. However, she was recognized as a human trying to survive by her peers (Sutton, 2007).

        What about fur coats? In some cultures or eco-social class, one may ask that fur coats are a way to show wealth and status. It would be normal to see someone with much money wearing a fur coat showing her wealth. The question is, however, can fur coats be seen as an act of deviance? The short answer is yes. What once was viewed as being someone with wealth has now turned into being viewed as distasteful and abusive to animals. In the 1970s, the group PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) came out and released videos of animals being tortured, abused, and slaughtered in order for humans to be able to wear their fur. Since then, companies have been focused on making artificial fur coats to still have a higher social status without the stigma of being an animal killer (Shin & Jin, 2021).

Conclusion

    There are many cultures around the world. Each culture is carrying its own set of social norms and traditions. What may seem normal to one culture will seem criminal or deviant to other cultures. This is not only true internationally but nationally as well. It is not uncommon to see someone walking around the streets of San Francisco naked. However, go to a suburb of California, and that same person will be charged with indecent exposure. It all depends on the person's culture and social norms as if the person is qualified as deviant or not. Deviance is not simply the act of being a criminal. It is the act of going against the social norms, culture, and beliefs in one's environment.

References:

Libretexts. (2021, February 20). 7.6C: Labeling Theory. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Sociology/Book%3A_Sociology_(Boundless)/07%3A_Deviance_Social_Control_and_Crime/7.06%3A_The_Symbolic-Interactionalist_Perspective_on_Deviance/7.6C%3A_Labeling_Theory

LeTigre, T. K. (2011, September 24). Deviants' fair returns to folsom street. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://www.ebar.com/news/news//124952

Mcleod, S. (1970, January 01). Social roles. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-roles.html#:~:text=Social%20norms%20are%20the%20accepted,predicting%20what%20people%20will%20do.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Deviant. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviant

Placzek, J. (2017, August 28). The history of nudity in San Francisco uncovered. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://www.sfgate.com/local-donotuse/article/The-history-of-nudity-in-San-Francisco-uncovered-11959489.php

Shin, D., & Jin, B. (2021, February 25). Do fur coats symbolize status or stigma? Examining the effect of perceived stigma on female consumers' purchase intentions toward fur coats. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40691-020-00229-2

Sutton, B. (2007). Naked Protest: Memories of Bodies and Resistance at the World Social Forum. Journal of International Women's Studies, 8(3), 139-146.