Me, Deviant?

I would say that to a part of society I am deviant, and to others I am not. It is interesting how people that are not involved in the “usual” activities of deviance can be labeled as deviant. These people are deviant from the norm, but in the opposite direction of crime. To the secular portion of society, people who are religious in their lifestyle and decision-making processes are deviant from the secular part of society who sees it as acceptable, even normal, to drink, or have sex before marriage. Because this is the case, not everywhere, but with some people, I am considered as both deviant, and not deviant. The people I am seen as not deviant by are the people who live the same lifestyle that I live, focusing on self-control, and realizing that the pressures of society discourage breaking the law. The two theories of deviance that seem to apply to me are Control Theory, and Game Theory. Control theory is probably the stronger of the two affecting my decision to refrain from deviant behaviors because the way I live reinforces/strengthens the bond between myself and society. Knowing that my actions affect yet more actions, and that doing something deviant jeopardizes the likelihood that I will achieve the best that I can keeps me from being deviant. Game Theory helps me make decisions that will be beneficial, if not now, then at some time in the future. Failing to successfully implement Game Theory leads to deviant decisions, like not doing homework or adequate studying even though doing so would be beneficial in the future. "the path of least resistance is far more appealing, which is why it's the one we're most likely to choose."(2)
I actually stumbled upon my act of deviance that I will use for my example in this post. I had been to the dentist to get a filling, so half of my mouth - and consequently my face - was numb. Because half of my face was effectively useless, my speech and facial expressions were different than they normally are. I left the dentist's office, and went to my Comparative Public Policy class. In the course of this class, I answered a question posed by the professor. When I spoke, about eighty percent of the class' heads turned to regard the person with the "weird" voice. My words were slurred, and I realized that I sounded as if I either had a speech impediment or some sort of mental incapacity. I do not remember ever feeling so "out" as I did at that point. My action was not deviant in and of itself, but the group of people that I sounded and looked like I was a part of is deviant from the able bodied societal norm that people expect of college students - or people in general. "The simplest view of deviance is essentiall statistical, defining as deviant anything that varies too widely from the average."(1)



(1) Konty, Mark A. "Boundaries: Readings in Deviance, Crime and Criminal Justice"
(2) Power, Privilege, Difference and Us (Johnson)

The Evolution of the "N"-Word

Just to be clear, the "N"-Word I am referring to is "nigger." This word has had its meaning and connotations change over the past 150+ years. The word is derived from the Latin niger(1), meaning black, and was originally used to refer to black people. Black people were slaves, and they were referred to by many variations on the word niger – nigor, negar, neger. It is not exactly clear as to when the term settled on nigger and became a derogative/insult(1). Today the word nigger is seen as either a very insulting racial slur, or is used by "gangstas" to refer to each other as a term of endearment. When the term is used as a term of endearment, it is sometimes spelled differently, nigga. The people who use the term nigger as a reference to another black person in the context of urban slang are seen by many people as deviant. The most likely people to use this word are the “gangstas” who see it as cool to use the term that has for so long been an insult, reclaiming it as part of their culture. The use of this word seems to have an impact not only on the people reclaiming it, but on the people who grew up with the derogatory meaning intended when the word was said. Older generations see the use of the word as a sign of disrespect for all that was accomplished during the Civil Rights movements of the 60s. Because of this, it may be that the word was reclaimed partly as an act of rebellion towards authority figures in these peoples’ lives. We have been asked to stop using this word for more than five decades in the interest of showing respect for our fellow human beings. The use of the word nigger is showing disrespect for our fellow man, using a term that was used mostly when Black people were enslaved. Using this word invites conflict, the very use of it by someone who is not a “gangsta” is seen as rude and disrespectful. Using phrases like “wassup ma nigga” is completely fine, but only if you are a part of the group that has been labeled deviant partly for their use of the word, or a variant of it. I think it is interesting how one word can have a non-derogative meaning, become derogative, then be used as either a friendly term OR an insult. It is hard for me to think of a time when using the word nigger was acceptable, or at least non-derogative. As long as I have been alive, I have been told never to use it, I even have a hard time saying it in explanation or example, it feels that taboo to me.

Definition of NIGGER(2)
1. Usually offensive: a black person
2. Usually offensive: a member of any dark-skinned race
3 : a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons


(1) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/nigger.htm
(2) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nigger