How do you spot a deviant?

Miriam A Marvin

Blog Post One

Sociology 360

Professor Williams

        Deviance within United States culture is a rather fluid concept, as it is subject to the perception and bias of the individuals within that culture. While there are many varying concepts and ideals which contribute to any definition available, the basic understanding is anything which varies from societal norms, or the basic ideals which are generally indicative of normalcy. Howard Becker states : “The simplest view of deviance is essentially statistacal, defining as deviant anything which varies too widely from the average.”(3) If you want to know who is considered deviant, listen and pay attention to the groups or individuals who are joked about, rallied for or against, put into a negative light or examined microscopically.

       The population selected for the purposes of this post was the wonderfully traditional Mexican family I have found myself a part of. My daughter's father has an incredibly large family, all of the elder members of which (anyone over 25) were either born in or grew up just outside Oaxaca, Mexico. The fundamentals of even the most basic social processes are vastly different than those in America. This has caused some awkward situations, as some aspects of our culture are brand new to them, while others are seen in varying degrees of negativity.

      The worst taboo became quite clear. While watching a soap opera, a Latina woman was dating a black man. This led to a conversation about women who turned their backs on their culture. As far as they were concerned, any Latina who did not marry and procreate with another Latino was a traitor and a whore. Just being with a person from another race was bad enough, but to many Mexicans black people are seen as less than them. This concept reminded me of the discussion we had in class about how race can be someone's master status, just as dating someone from another race does in my family. Interestingly enough, dating a White man was tolerable, as it was seen as an upgrade, or as more socially acceptable than even dating a Latino.

When I say "traditional Mexican woman" most of you think of something like this:

superstock.com


While dating someone not necessarily normal, this is how everyone starts to see you:





Eva Longoria

     

       There were quite a few other groups or behaviors which were discussed, such as being Mexican-American and not speaking Spanish. This is viewed as a deviation for the Culture itself; it is about equivalent to not knowing where Mexico is on a map. To the family, learning Spanish or teaching it to our children is as important as breathing. It is assumed that if someone of Hispanic heritage does not speak Spanish, they have no respect and/or appreciation for the culture,struggles or accomplishments of the Hispanic people.

Even for those Mexican-Americans who do speak Spanish, once we return to Mexico, all bets are off. Because the family originated from small towns, it is well known who lives there full time and who just visits occasionally. Those of us who just visit are seen and treated as outsiders. It is generally believed that we have sold out, or are somehow less than Mexican. It is almost as though our race changed while we weren't looking- and we showed up naked.

      Those who are, for all intents and purposes, “normal” in my family and my culture, seem to police our behaviors and actions very closely. Even one indication that we don't speak fluent Spanish, and you can see and feel their reception and treatment of you change. In my culture, you want to stay far away from those who have deviated too far from traditions, as you may be seen as “one of those” Mexicans. Once you are discovered, you will never be able to change the stigma surrounding your status.

      It wouldn't matter if you spoke perfect formal and informal Spanish, tattooed the Virgin Mary on your back as big as you could, only ate and cooked traditional meals and married the most traditional Mexican you could find. You would still be abnormal, unacceptable and weird. This scenario is quite similar to the conclusions Chambliss drew, stating that “ It is more likely that their noticeable deviance will have been so reinforced by police and community that their lives will be effectively channeled into careers consistent with their adolescent background.” (31) While the deviance from Mexican traditions may not be criminal in the sense that it cannot be prosecuted, it can feel like a crime when you are defined by the attributes of non traditionalist Mexican living. This distinction can become a part of your life, and change how you live. 

Word Count: 748