Behavior, beliefs, or characteristics that violate social norms and expectations within a particular society or group. It encompasses actions that are considered abnormal, unacceptable, or outside the range of typical social conduct.
From 'deviant' (Latin 'deviare', to turn from the road) plus '-ance'. 'Deviare' combines 'de-' (away from) and 'via' (road, way). The sociological concept developed in the 20th century as scholars recognized that what counts as deviant varies dramatically across cultures and historical periods.
Deviance isn't about being bad or good - it's about being different from what a society expects! The same behavior can be deviant in one context and normal in another, which shows that deviance tells us more about social rules than about individual psychology.
Deviance is socially constructed; women have been labeled deviant for transgressing gender norms (professional ambition, sexual autonomy, leadership). The term reflects power hierarchies that define whose behavior is 'normal.'
Use 'deviance' descriptively when discussing social definitions of norm-violation; clarify who defines deviance and acknowledge that gender norms are culturally enforced rather than natural.
["norm-violation","unconventional behavior"]
Women who violated gender norms—from Emmeline Pankhurst to Viola Liuzzo—were labeled deviant; recognize their agency in challenging oppressive norms.
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