Key Concepts in Social Deviance and Inequality

Social deviance

Behavior that violates social norms.

Informal deviance

Minor violations (e.g., burping loudly).

Crime

Violation of laws; a form of formal deviance.

Social control

Ways society enforces norms and rules.

Formal social sanctions

Official punishments (e.g., jail, fines).

Informal social sanctions

Unofficial reactions (e.g., shaming, gossip).

Social cohesion (solidarity)

Social bonds that hold society together.

Mechanical solidarity

Unity based on sameness (pre-modern societies).

Organic solidarity

Unity through interdependence (modern societies).

Social integration

How well individuals feel connected to society.

Social regulation

Degree of rules guiding one's life.

Egoistic suicide

From low integration (feeling isolated).

Altruistic suicide

From high integration (sacrificing for group).

Anomie

A state of normlessness or confusion.

Anomic suicide

From low regulation (loss of structure).

Fatalistic suicide

From too much regulation (feeling trapped).

Strain theory

Crime results from the gap between goals and means.

Labeling theory

Being labeled as deviant leads to further deviance.

Primary deviance

First act of rule-breaking.

Secondary deviance

Ongoing deviance after being labeled.

Broken windows theory

Visible disorder leads to more deviance.

Total institutions

Places that control all aspects of life (e.g., prisons).

Panopticon

Prison design showing constant surveillance = self-discipline.

Socioeconomic status

Social rank based on income, education, job.

Stratification

System of ranking people in a hierarchy.

Income

Money received regularly (e.g., salary).

Wealth

Total assets minus debts.

Upper/owning class

The wealthy elite with most resources.

Middle class

Includes: Upper-middle: Professionals with comfortable income. Lower-middle: Stable jobs, less wealth.

Working class

Manual laborers, often with limited financial security.

Working poor

Employed but still in poverty.

Social equality

Equal access to resources and opportunities.

Dialectic

Opposing forces (like rich vs. poor) produce social change.

Bourgeois society

Capitalist society emphasizing private property.

Estate system

Feudal system with limited mobility (nobles, peasants).

Caste system

Rigid hierarchy based on birth.

Class system

Open system based on economic position.

Proletariat

Working class, sell their labor.

Bourgeoisie

Owners of production and capital.

Contradictory class locations

People between classes (e.g., managers).

Status hierarchy system

Stratification based on prestige, not money.

Elite-mass dichotomy system

A few elite rule over the masses.

Meritocracy

Social status based on individual achievement.

Social mobility

Moving up or down the social ladder.

Structural mobility

Changes in society cause movement.

Exchange mobility

People trade places within the same class system.

Market Basket Measure

Canada's poverty line based on basic needs.

Sex

Biological differences between males and females.

Gender

Social roles and expectations tied to sex.

Sexuality

Who you're romantically/sexually attracted to.

Essentialism

Belief that gender traits are natural or fixed.

Androgynous

Having both masculine and feminine traits.

Transgender

Gender identity differs from sex assigned at birth.

Cisgender

Gender identity matches birth sex.

Hegemonic masculinity

Idealized dominant male traits.

Emphasized femininity

Idealized female traits centered on pleasing men.

Pariah femininity

Femininities that challenge gender norms.

Feminism

Belief in gender equality.

Patriarchy

System where men hold more power.

Sexism

Discrimination based on gender.

Emotional labour

Managing emotions as part of paid work.

Glass ceiling

Invisible barrier preventing women's promotion.

Glass escalator

Men rise quickly in female-dominated jobs.

Sex role theory

Functionalist idea: gender roles keep society stable.

Intersectionality

How multiple identities (race, gender, class) combine.

Matrix of domination

Interlocking systems of power and oppression.

Bisexual

Attracted to more than one gender.

Homosexual

Attracted to same gender.

Heteronormativity

Assuming heterosexuality is normal/default.

Social constructionism

Belief that gender and sexuality are shaped by society.

Gender roles

Expected behaviors for males and females.

Race

Social category based on perceived physical differences.

Racism

Belief that one race is superior to others.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural practices and heritage.

Symbolic ethnicity

Ethnic identity expressed occasionally (e.g., on holidays).

Scientific racism

Use of science to justify racial hierarchies.

Ethnocentrism

Believing one's culture is superior.

One-drop rule

U.S. law—any Black ancestry = Black identity.

Miscegenation

Interracial marriage or relationships.

Racialization

Assigning racial meaning to a group.

Minority status

Less power or privilege in society.

Majority status

Holds social power and privilege.

Prejudice

Prejudging; negative thoughts about a group.

Discrimination

Actions that treat people unfairly.

Stereotype

Oversimplified beliefs about a group.

Genocide

Systematic killing of a group.

Expulsion

Forcing a group to leave an area.

Segregation and separatism

Physical/social separation of groups.

Assimilation

Minority adopts dominant group's traits.

Multiculturalism

Promoting cultural diversity within society.

Institutional racism

Discrimination built into social systems.

Colour-blind racism

Ignoring race while still upholding inequality.

White privilege

Unearned advantages for white people.

Invisible knapsack

Metaphor for hidden white privileges.