SOC101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Misogyny, Sexual Sterilization Act Of Alberta, Essentialism

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC101
• Professor: Patrick Lalonde

Document Summary

Deviance: straying from the norm or the usual. Overt characteristics: the actions or qualities taken as explicitly violating the cultural norm. Covert characteristics: unstated qualities that might make a particular group a target for sanctions. Three theories of deviance: strain theory, subcultural theory, and labelling. Strain theory: a disconnect between society(cid:495)s culturally defined goals and the uneven distribution of the means necessary to achieve goals. American dream: success (fame, wealth , social prestige, etc. ) mythologized as an opportunity that any american citizen, regardless of background or circumstances, can seize provided he or she is willing to put in the hard work to get it. Delinquent subculture: made up of young, lower-class males suffering from a status frustration. The contested nature of deviance: what constitutes deviance within societies is also contestable; not everyone agrees. culture. Conflict deviance: when deviance is contested in a given area; for example, marijuana.