The Relativity of Deviance and Its Types - Assignment Example

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The author of the paper "The Relativity of Deviance and Its Types" argues in a well-organized manner that smoking could be perceived as a sign of maturity and sophistication in certain societies, but viewed as a sign of irresponsibility and immaturity in others…

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The Relativity of Deviance and Its Types

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Subject: Sociology
Type: Assignment
Level: Ph.D.
Pages: 1 (250 words)
Downloads: 3
Author: vhoeger

Extract of sample "The Relativity of Deviance and Its Types"

People in mainstream media and government have for years worried over, designed rituals, and made laws around situations that they perceive to threaten or disturb the peace or communal fabric (Curra, 3).

Drugs are a great example of the relativity of defiance. It is interesting how drugs especially alcohol and tobacco are portrayed in schools and the perception that students in general get. As a result of continued stereotypes, students view and classify alcohol and tobacco as illegal controlled substances, but in reality, these are legal consumer products. The reason the government allows adults but not students to purchase and consume these products, as they like, is because deviance is relative. Otherwise, why would the government avail dangerous substances to the public?

Drug-related crimes are also punished differently just as marijuana laws have continued to evolve depending on societal standing. According to Curra (2011, 3), children raised in the suburbs are subjected to harsher punishment compared to their counterparts from Chicago Housing Projects. Relativity of deviance, therefore, continues to favor those of a higher social class in sentencing laws and in society. It was not until 2010 that ‘crack’ cocaine users received a punishment that was at par with users of pure powder cocaine (Curra, 3). Before that, ‘crack’ cocaine was punished a hundred times more harshly.

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