"Deviance or the sociology of deviance explores the actions and/or behaviors that violate social norms across formally enacted rules (e.g., crime) as well as informal violations of social norms (e.g., rejecting folkways and mores)."
An area of study that explores how social structures and institutions, such as race, gender, and social class, shape perceptions of deviance and influence who is labeled as 'deviant.'.
Social Inequality: The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and outcomes across different social groups based on factors such as race, gender, sexuality, and class.
Intersectionality: The interconnectedness of different social identities and the ways in which they interact to produce unique experiences of power and oppression.
Stereotyping and Prejudice: The negative attitudes and beliefs held about certain groups of people based on stereotypes, both conscious and unconscious.
Systemic Oppression: The ways in which social systems, policies, and structures reinforce and perpetuate inequalities and power imbalances.
White Privilege: The unearned advantages and benefits that white people experience simply by virtue of being white in a society that is structured to favor whiteness.
Heteronormativity: The assumption that heterosexuality is the norm and that other forms of sexuality or gender expressions are abnormal or deviant.
Ableism: Discrimination against people with disabilities, both visible and invisible, through societal attitudes and institutional practices that marginalize them and limit their opportunities.
Colonialism and Post-Colonialism: The historical and ongoing legacy of colonialism, including the exploitation of people, resources, and land in colonized nations and the continued influence of former colonial powers in those nations.
Sexism: The systemic discrimination and subordination of women in society, including the gender wage gap, unequal treatment in the workplace, and limited access to political power.
Implicit Bias: Unconscious attitudes and beliefs that affect how people make decisions and interact with others, often without realizing it.
Privilege and Allyship: The responsibilities and opportunities of individuals who hold power and privilege to recognize and combat systemic oppression.
Microaggressions: Subtle forms of discrimination, often unintentional, that communicate negative messages through tone, body language, or language choices.
Institutionalized Racism: Racism that is not simply the product of individual bigotry or prejudice, but that is embedded in societal structures and policies.
Environmental Racism: The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards and pollution on marginalized communities.
Cultural Appropriation: The taking of cultural elements of one group by members of another group without proper acknowledgement or respect for the original culture.
Economic Power and Privilege: Access to resources and wealth that elevate one's social status and opportunities for success.
Political Power and Privilege: The ability to influence decisions and policies that affect society as a whole.
Social Power and Privilege: The ability to control and shape social norms and interactions.
Gender Power and Privilege: The advantages and disadvantages that come from one's gender identity.
Racial and Ethnic Power and Privilege: The advantages and disadvantages that come from one's race and ethnicity.
Sexual Orientation Power and Privilege: The advantages and disadvantages that come from one's sexual orientation.
Ability Power and Privilege: The advantages and disadvantages that come from one's physical and mental abilities.
Age Power and Privilege: The advantages and disadvantages that come from one's age.
Religious Power and Privilege: The advantages and disadvantages that come from one's religious identity.
"Although deviance may have a negative connotation, the violation of social norms is not always a negative action; positive deviation exists in some situations."
"Social norms differ throughout society and between cultures."
"A certain act or behavior may be viewed as deviant and receive sanctions or punishments within one society and be seen as a normal behavior in another society."
"Additionally, as a society's understanding of social norms changes over time, so too does the collective perception of deviance."
"Deviance is relative to the place where it was committed or to the time the act took place."
"Killing another human is generally considered wrong, for example, except when governments permit it during warfare or for self-defense."
"There are two types of major deviant actions: mala in se and mala prohibita."
"Formally enacted rules (e.g., crime)."
"Informal violations of social norms (e.g., rejecting folkways and mores)."
"Although a norm is violated, a behavior can still be classified as positive or acceptable."
"A certain act or behavior may be viewed as deviant and receive sanctions or punishments within one society."
"A certain act or behavior may be viewed as deviant and receive sanctions or punishments within one society and be seen as a normal behavior in another society."
"As a society's understanding of social norms changes over time, so too does the collective perception of deviance."
"Deviance is relative to the place where it was committed or to the time the act took place."
"Killing another human is generally considered wrong, for example, except when governments permit it during warfare or for self-defense."
"A certain act or behavior may be viewed as deviant and receive sanctions or punishments within one society."
"Social norms differ throughout society and between cultures."
"As a society's understanding of social norms changes over time, so too does the collective perception of deviance."
"A certain act or behavior may be viewed as deviant and receive sanctions or punishments within one society and be seen as a normal behavior in another society."