The Use of Sociological Research in Public Debate Issues of Social Deviance - Essay Example

?The Use of Sociological Research in Public Debate Issues of Social Deviance Introduction Society never fails to become a consistent of change. Each change has its own effect in some particular sectors of the society which in turn, affected the cultural norms and standard of a certain group. Events such as teenage pregnancy and cohabitation have raised the brows of traditionalist saying that it is immoral. On the other hand are the post modernists, who believed that these events are part of sociological change brought about by different factors, and thus, should not be remorsed but embraced. The two principles are governed by sets of reasons, but what drove them to stand is the information brought about sociological research. Sociological research on teenage pregnancy and co-habitation aims to transmit understanding to the people, in such a way that it would reconcile the traditionalist thought and modernist thought; however, it does not deny the possibility of widening the gap between the two principles. Sociology Sociology is the scientific study of the origins and development of organizations and the relationship of each person to their society. There is known to be an irrevocable relationship of an individual’s experiences to the whereabouts of his society; a person affects society as much as society affects the person (Newman, 2010, p. xxii). This seems to be a chicken-and-egg question, but truth remains that not one sociologist can pin point which affects whom and vice versa because society and people are two nondetachable elements. Sociological research’s use is to examine the problems of the society, the reasons of such problems, and if those problems are still considered problems in the modern world, especially that several factors are present influencing social issues. Plummer (2010, p. 3) sees Sociology as a “critique and wonderer” who continually thinks and appreciate the “complex patterns of social life.” Complex, in a sense that people’s social thoughts are evolutionary, and sometimes, more negative perspectives than the positive ones show, described by Plummer (2010, p. 4) as a “march of humanity’s inhumanity.” As varied as the cultures of people, sociological research respects cultural norms. The studies are helpful in beginning to end bigotry, and begin tolerance in understanding other cultures and stresses the importance of eliminating bias, although at times it may be unstoppable. Issues such as teenage pregnancy and cohabitation are two most common social deviants, where both are favorite topics of formal and informal arguments. Teenage Pregnancy and Early Motherhood as a Public Issue There are a number of factors which may contribute to the widespread of early sexual experience among teenagers. An alarming 41,329 girls under age 18 became pregnant in 2008 (Rogers, 2010). This statistical record is already around 3% lower than what the nation made in 2007 but the decrease is not really a significant number to rejoice about because it represents only a small percentage of the total pregnant teens’ population. Adding to the reckless potential of the media is the teenagers’ attitude itself towards sexual activities. In Liscio’s (2011) report, the issue holds a different case, mentioning about the brighter side of teenage pregnancy. According to the study, teenagers are more likely to “re-engage themselves at school once the baby is born.” This is probably due to a human’s parental instinct, that is one should have a child of his own, it is obligatory to give him or her brighter future. As education becomes a key of having better job opportunities, teenage parents do their best in academic performance. However, this does not make the issue at least acceptable because it is still an ongoing debate whether teenage pregnancy should be accepted as a part of change or should remain as a social taboo subject to restriction of discussion and adaption. Teenage mothers are forced to turn from single life’s luxury and face the responsibilities of motherhood at an early age. Being a parent at the adolescent years is of course, not an option of most teenagers; however, records show that this fear is ineffective when it comes to decreasing the teenage parenthood rates. One solution most people have in mind is the dissemination of birth control. Wooding (2010) reported that the alarmed UK local government gives away birth control pills to teenage girls “without doctor’s prescription.” Knowing the possible health effects in taking the birth control, parents were vigilant in disapproving the government’s action. What provoked the parents to oppose the solution of the local government stems to the thought that the “giving off pills” implies that they have the government’s consent to have sex anytime they feel like it. This strategy, instead of decreasing the teenage pregnancy rates, would likely make a significant increase in the statistics. It has been found out that ineffective birth control methods would cause pregnancy by about 6 times more. Furthermore, there is the negative impression to young mothers. Stereotyping the teenage mothers as wild and irresponsible is actually social assumption and does not have a back-up research to prove its validity (Gentleman, 2010). In the research entitled “Teenage Parenthood: What’s the Problem?” a non-conventional look of the issue was given emphasis: the brighter side of teenage parenthood. According to the research, teenage parents begin to become responsible individuals who strive for the future of their child. Contrary to the common notion that the teenage parents’ future would be a wreck, Dr. Claire Alexander of the London School of Economics, contends that young parents are most likely to re-arrange their lives in turn of a better upbringing of their child. The young parents are given credit for their efforts, but still they are not spared for suffering emotional and financial breakdown. Typically, most pregnancies occurring in the teenage years are unplanned; therefore most of the teenagers who get themselves involved in this situation do not have the financial capability of supporting a child. Though modernists do not see the young mothers as threat to the breakdown of society, fact remains that the norms are still given importance by most people, and that the idea of teenage parenthood is not a favorable societal issue. On Matters of Co-habitation Trends of courtship have been changing through time, and constantly a common topic when it comes to debates on social issues. Especially on intimacy, traditional views on intimate relationship believe that two persons should remain chaste and exclusive to each other until such time that they decide to get married. However, this is not the case all the time. In the United Kingdom, there is a continuing weigh in of logical reasons whether or not it is useful to cohabit or not. According to Ismail (2010), “sociologist [find] cohabitation detrimental” for a future marriage or within the present relationship itself. In co-habitation, it is natural to perceive the hidden qualities of a significant other and the partner is left with a decision of whether to accept it or not. This is mostly what causes the relationship to break-up. The modernist views were to see this as an opportunity of escaping a relationship before legal matters would come in the way, while conservative thinkers would prefer to believe it as a “test of faith” rather than a practical way of ending it. The problem lies on the irreconcilable thoughts about this matter. A research conducted by the Yale University found out that amidst the increasing population of cohabiting couples, there are several reasons why one should not. It has been found out that the person who experienced premarital sex or cohabitation before their present marriage is most likely to have extra marital affairs. This tendency is due to reasons such as not meeting the level of satisfaction of the spouse in sex (Anon., 2010). The very fact that the couple are cohabiting exhibits the quality of being unsure about their relationship and usually have questions in mind about where and how far the relationship would take them, in other words, they “lack common purpose.” Whenever a marriage breaks down, it is usually a painful experience, not just on emotions, but also financially. Couples would need to worry on how to break even the assets they made as a couple, but there is always the prenuptial agreement to settle the issue even before it occurs. Sociological research plays a role in informing potential cohabitation partners about the pros and cons of the situation they are about to get themselves into. Sociological research has become an essential basis of the public information about the changing social standards and how they affect them as individuals, more so as couples. Sociological Research and Its Impact on the Debate of Social Deviance Sociological research enjoys a place in the interest of most readers, since debates on issues like cohabitation and teenage pregnancy concern not just a particular group but the society in general. What affect both issues are the larger scale and not just a minority. For instance, the issue teenage pregnancy is not only a problem of the Western world but also for the other, more conservative nations, and may even have greater intensity on them. Cohabitation is not different. Trends in relationship welcome cohabitation as a part of a pre-marriage process. The role of sociological research is essential on tackling social issues, and these debates would be used as guidelines in making certain decisions. Wooding’s (2010) report about the local government giving off birth control pills to teenagers without doctor’s prescription, with the parents being contradictory about it, is a proof that sociological research impacted the perception of the parents. They feel that “adult intervention” should be a bit moralizing, but the government failed to address their parental rights. Parents should have remained silent about the situation if they are not informed of their legibility and usefulness when it comes to guiding their children. After all, parents should be the most concerned group in this issue because it is the welfare of their children on stake. Fundo (2010) contends that the parents have more active involvement regarding their children’s activities and believe that “education starts at home.” It is not to depreciate education but parents are firm to their stand that schooling would be of less value “until the basic unit of the society will become the core of education.” In this case, the influence of sociological research affected the principles of the parents, believing that they have more responsibility of their children over the government. The debate on abstinence over modern birth control methods is becoming common; however societal opinion about it remains dynamic. Back in the 1920’s Margaret Sanger’s fight for the legalization of birth control methods was a taboo, but nowadays, it seems that it has become the more preferable means of family planning and preventing teenage pregnancy. However, a recent sociological study might reverse again public opinion. It has just been found out that when abstinence is given emphasis on sex education, teens are more likely to delay sexual activities (Maugh & Roan, 2010). The result of the abstinence only program is, however, variable and subject to the culture of a particular group and that it cannot always have the same results. Bill Albert, of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, contends that the study should not be a basis of factual evidence to be applied on law because the study is only applicable to a certain group (cited in Maugh & Roan, 2010). True, that the study was conducted on one group, but it still holds the side of the abstinence-only institutions such as the Catholic Church, and the debate goes on. It is just the same on the other issue discussed. Cohabitation has its own set of public responses, basing on their values, culture and practical reasons. Cohabiting couples are known to follow the tradition of relationship less than those who are married. Norms still discourage cohabitation, with the cohabiting couple’s ability to raise a family in question. Especially with fathers, a common notion to cohabiting couples is their inability of childcare, and this is what society is concerned of. Then again, a research by Gonzales, Trivet, and Trevino (2010, p. 445) proved otherwise. Their study is about the parenting abilities of cohabiting couples, with concentration on the fathers, if whether or not they are more active in child-rearing. Surprisingly, they found out that most fathers in cohabiting relationships tend to be more responsive and involved than those married fathers. The two faces of the debates on these two issues greatly depend on the arguments proposed by such sociological studies. Researchers wanted to prove assumptions of some sociological issues which happen to affect social norms. Debates on social deviance, especially on the modern society, depends on the culture and corresponding sociological studies that would approve people’s opinions. Conclusion Sociological research is an avenue for researchers to prove the applicability of their assumed thoughts with respect to society. Results of the studies stir personal opinion about different matters and eventually affect the opinion of the society as a whole. The essential part of sociological research is to inform the public on the changing trends of society, regardless of what aspect. Taking for instance the issues on cohabitation and teenage pregnancy, there can never be a unified thought on its judgments because first of all, people have varied cultural and personal backgrounds which affect their line of thinking. Sociological research does not aim to make all cultures have universal opinion, but rather, to raise awareness and promote respect towards the culture not their own. References Anonymous, 2010. 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