Social Norms and Sanctions Related to It - Essay Example

One of the compelling factors that aid in the existence of social norms is their formal implementation through sanctions. Given that people frequently obtain physical and mental means from clustered affiliations, clusters or groups are considered to manipulate open stimuli; clusters can either hold back or provide resources to respond to the constituent's obedience to the group norms, efficiently manipulating the conduct and actions of every member of a group through recompenses (Hackman 240).

According to social psychology, the more a person recognizes the conformity between his or her description of identity and existence, the more a  person becomes agreeable to following the norms. Social norms likewise let someone evaluate what behaviors are regarded as significant for continued existence, given that they signify a systematization of views and principles. Furthermore, social norms fashion conformities that permit every individual to mix in their own cultural background or civilization.

Social norms are manifested in many different places and situations: when you use the bathroom, you are expected to flush the bowl; when eating pasta, you are always expected to use a fork instead of a spoon or other utensils; when you are inside the library, you are expected to avoid making unnecessary and disturbing noise; and so many others. Social norms are either influenced by traditional practices or are prevalently adopted by a certain group, regardless of which time the implementation takes place. Nonconformity to these social norms produces deviance. Deviance takes place within any social setting and is perceived as an irregularity that can disturb or upset the social system.

Social norms are armed with sanctions that are utilized to push conformity and submission. At the same time, sanctions are also used to dissuade the desecration of the social norms accomplished through various types of control. According to Schaffer (155), social control refers to the methods and strategies that work to preclude possible nonconformist human behavior. Any derailment in social norms or acts of nonconformity can produce social disarray and conflict, which could eventually create social volatility. In a nutshell, social norms are accustomed conventions of behavior that harmonize our relationships with other people. As something becomes recognized and customary as a rule, it develops an enduring influence because people will develop a preference to be consistent with the norms that are being followed by the majority.

Gender Norms and Violations
Gender norms are social and behavioral standards from which the appropriateness of a particular act, task, or description is determined in so far as interpersonal relationships are concerned. For so many years, this has become one of the constant sources of gender inequality in most countries. Although one gender type is capable of accomplishing tasks deemed only suitable for the other gender type, resolutions to such cases are usually to resort back to the standards set by the gender norms. While gender norms are prevalent regardless of location, they vary significantly according to culture. There are dissimilarities of belief as to which perceived behavioral and personality differences concerning genders are completely attributable to inborn individuality of a person and which are owing to the cultural or social aspects, and thus are a result of socialization, or to what degree or magnitude do differences in gender are attributable to the biological and psychological variances (World Health Organization, "What Do We Mean By 'Sex' and 'Gender'?").

Opinions on a distinction based on gender in the workplace so as in relational associations have frequently gone through extreme modifications as a result of feminist influences nevertheless, there are still substantial distinctions in gender roles in nearly all civilizations and cultures. It is likewise factual that during times of immediate necessity, such as during crises, tragedies, or emergencies, women are allowed to do tasks that in "ordinary" times would be regarded as a male function; and sometimes, it goes the other way around. Seen this way, junctures when accomplishing roles do not really consider gender norms are possible; nevertheless, these are employed at times when there are greater interests involved.

When talking about gender, it has various descriptions; however, it generally refers to an array of individualities that are deemed to characterize male and female genders, reveal or manifest one's biological attributes, or manifest gender identity. Nonetheless, identification of gender does not necessarily have to conform to the standards of biological sex. Gender identity could be or could not be identified depending on the person's opinion of one's gender identity. It is an innate, personal view of being a male or a female (GLAAD, "GLAAD Media Reference Guide: Transgender Glossary of Terms").

Today, there are two classifications of genders: male and female. Nevertheless, there are some societies and cultures that consider having more than two genders. The extended gender, or sometimes referred to as homosexuals, is considered to be a third gender (Eleanor Emmons 27). As a matter of fact, the American Psychological Association recognizes homosexuality as a distinct type of gender, which is not similar in traits with the other two genders; and which is not an aberrant gender of any of the two widely recognized genders (APA, “Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality”). On the whole, gender norms come short of soundness in that conditions change as time passes by, and there are norms that are previously acceptable but are not today.

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