Chapter 7: Transgressing Week 4 Essential Reading Study Notes (Sarah Salman)

Sara Salman

Deviancy or social transgressions are typical elements within society. They can either reinforce existing power imbalances or catalyze social change.
Social transgressions are handled differently across various societal institutions, reflecting structural inequalities that favor certain groups over others.
Major institutions like media, government, and the criminal justice system create diverse interpretations of these transgressions, spanning from empathy to outright hatred.

To transgress means to deviate from societal norms and laws, indicating a breach of established boundaries.
The term possesses connotations of rupture and violation.
RUSS POLIO underlines the cultural significance of transgression in shaping societal views.

In the Abrahamic tradition, the fall of Adam and Eve illustrates that transgression is innately human.
Excitement and seduction are associated with rule-breaking; in consumerist societies, transgression becomes a lucrative concept.
Examples include fast cars exceeding speed limits or luxury goods named after addictive substances, showcasing how transgression can be commodified and simultaneously normalized.
Paradox of Conformity: Despite an individualistic ethos, extreme conformity exists in Western societies, depicting non-conformists as threats.
The homeless often face blame for their condition, overshadowing structural issues like housing costs and unemployment.
Society tends to focus on public order and safety, categorizing homelessness as a criminality issue rather than a social crisis (Herring, Yarbrough, and Alatorre, 2020).

Conformity involves acceptance of societal norms, leading to the commodification of public spaces aimed at consumer use and potentially criminalizing homelessness.
This chapter analyzes various transgressive actions and the feelings associated with them, emphasizing the exercise of power in defining what constitutes transgression.

Human Agency: The capacity of individuals to exert power and influence societal structures.
Othering: A process through which dominant groups portray subordinate groups as fundamentally different and undeserving of equal rights.

Transgressions are defined socially; those in power influence what is labeled transgressive, deviant, or illegitimate.
Some actions classified as transgressive are not necessarily criminal but violate social norms, invoking collective disapproval.
Broader societal groups thus emerge to classify and stigmatize certain actions.
Additionally, transgressions can represent a form of agency, wherein individuals act against societal expectations to form identities or challenge oppressive norms.

The chapter is divided into two sections:
- Analysis of societal definitions of transgression and the ramifications of power.
- Exploration of transgression from a critical perspective, focusing on underlying power structures and cultural acceptance.

Crime is acknowledged as a common social institution across all societies, not limited to violations of criminal law.
According to scholars, crime offends collective sentiments and serves social functions rather than being solely pathological.
- Durkheim: Crime represents a normal social phenomenon essential for self-preservation and social integration.
Transgression often exposes the tension between individual self-interest and social cooperation.

Crime also facilitates the evolution of morality and law, prompting societal reflection and adaptation.
Historical instances illustrate how dissent and transgression can lead to significant sociocultural developments (e.g., opposition to heliocentrism).
Example: In New Zealand, overrepresentation of Māori in drug convictions highlights systemic inadequacies and stigma against Indigenous populations, reflecting punitive populism in drug criminalization.

Moral Panic: A phenomenon where society dramatically overreacts to a perceived threat, often embodying larger social issues.
Features:
- Social Concern: Framed as symptomatic of broader societal decay.
- Demonization: Individuals labeled as transgressors often face hostile societal reactions.
- Moral panics create 'folk devils', individuals or groups cast as threats needing neutralization.

Two key drug crises in American history illustrate moral panics about transgressions:
- Crack Cocaine Epidemic (1980s-1990s): Characterized by sensationalized media portrayals of drug users, primarily affecting African American communities.
- Opioid Crisis (2010s): Recent media narratives regarding heroin addiction depicted a more sympathetic, medical response due to the predominantly white demographic of users.

Portugal's Model: In 2001, Portugal decriminalized drug possession and consumption, facilitating humane treatment and public health approaches to addiction.
Successes: Significant reductions in drug-related harm, with an emphasis on treatment rather than punishment.
Other countries continue to grapple with stark punitive policies, showing resistance to adapt to evidence-based practices.

Neoliberal policies have led to increased social exclusion and stigmatization of the poor, particularly affecting marginalized communities.
Mass incarceration has been fueled by systemic criminalization of drug offenses, especially in African American populations.
Othering Mechanism: The process that makes certain groups undeserving of rights, reinforcing social and racial inequalities.

Mass incarceration functions as a tool for oppression, portraying communities as deviant and excusing punitive measures.
451,000 individuals are incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses in America daily, underscoring systemic inequality.

The chapter critiques the perception of transgression as deviation from social consensus and examines the societal forces that render actions transgressive.
Moral panics exacerbate the stigma surrounding marginalized groups and prevent effective social responses, while highlighting the necessity for reform-driven actions toward justice and social inclusion.
Upcoming policy votes, such as New Zealand's Cannabis Legalization and Control Bill, indicate potential shifts toward less punitive approaches and greater societal understanding of drug-related issues.