Oct. 9 (Assigned reading #3)

What was the purpose of Humphreys’ Tearoom Trade study?

To understand anonymous same-sex encounters between men in public restrooms

• challenge stereotypes about homosexuality

How did Humphreys conduct his research?

Used covert observation as a “watchqueen,” recorded license plates, and conducted disguised interviews

What were the main ethical concerns?

Lack of informed consent, deception, invasion of privacy, confidentiality risks, and potential harm

How does the “Tearoom Trade” study relate to deviance and labelling theory?

Deviance is socially constructed through labels and reactions

• engaging in deviant behaviour does not necessarily define someone's identity

Why has deviance research suffered from a lack of primary data?

Researchers traditionally relied on official statistics and self-reports from apprehended deviants rather than direct observation

What are the consequences of relying on these sources?

They produce biased and incomplete understandings of deviant actors, their behaviour, and social organization

What alternative does Ball propose?

Directly studying unapprehended deviants in their natural environments

What is the purpose and focus of Ball's study?

To examine how an abortion clinic uses presentation strategies to meet the expectations of conventional clients

What three methods did Ball use in his study?

1. Observation of routine clinic activities

2. Extensive interviews with patrons

3. Limited discussions with non-medical staff

How did the clinic use medicalization?

By presenting abortion through conventional medical language, professional routines, and surgical procedures

• reduce anxiety and minimize its deviant image

What is the rhetoric of legitimization?

The strategic use of language, symbols, and behaviours to make a socially deviant activity appear legitimate and acceptable

How does the abortion clinic use the rhetoric of legitimization?

By presenting abortion as a routine, professional medical procedure

• helped to neutralize stigma and establish legitimacy

What is Goffman's concept of front?

The presentation strategies used to define a situation and manage an audience's impressions

What are the three constituents of front?

1. Setting (physical surroundings)

2. Appearance (social status or identity)

3. Manner (behaviour and attitude)

How does the clinic manipulate the three constituents of front to develop a rhetoric of legitimization?

1. Setting

   1. uses a luxurious waiting room and medically equipped operating room

2. Appearance

   1. Staff wear medical uniforms and gloves

3. Manner

   1. Staff use medical terminology, behaved professionally, while the receptionist provides reassurance

What were the main failures in the clinic's presentation?

Pseudo-sterility, lack of privacy, loud music, inconsistent transportation, emphasis on patient cooperation, and absence of displayed medical credentials

What was the clinic's most successful presentation strategy?

Its luxurious waiting room

• created a respectable, familiar middle-class environment

• helped reduce patients' anxiety

What are the two broad dimensions of the clinic's rhetoric of legitimacy?

1. Luxury and cost

2. Conventional medical practices and procedures

What four elements contribute to the clinic's rhetoric of legitimacy?

Cleanliness, competence, conventionality, and concern for the patron

How does the Theory of Planned Behaviour explain condom use?

Condom use depends on attitudes (beliefs about condoms), subjective norms (social approval), and perceived behavioural control (confidence and ability)

• which influence intentions and behaviour