Topic > Sagging Pants is Deviant Behavior - 648

A deviant behavior is a label attached to a person's activity conducted in a manner outside the normalized zone of conformity within a society. There is a perception of how people see or understand certain behaviors. Subsequently, a behavior may be considered illegal in the eyes of the law and may also be considered immoral, unethical or inappropriate in the eyes of people. Furthermore, deviant behavior is conceptualized in the eyes of the public even when an act is not illegal. While this may be true, there still exists a circle of cultural beliefs and education among some groups of people who may not actually consider an act deviant or illegal. People in a community have attachments to their family, peers, and social environment. So, in a way, the way they behave or dress in public or private places might otherwise suit them. According to Larsen (2013), “there is debate about whether to prohibit certain behaviors in order to maintain a sense of order. " With this in mind, would it be fair for people to be told what to do, what to say, and what to wear because a person's image can damage society's norms and well-being? Is it justifiable to say that a person's dress code can actually define the character and intelligence of an individual? Unfortunately, in today's society, we usually judge a book by its cover. Similarly, wearing baggy pants could create a negative aspect for the individual and for society cause a stigma associated with crime and delinquency. As for members of the community who wear baggy pants, would there be some sort of violation of the promises of our freedoms? Baggy pants can be seen everywhere, in church, in shopping malls, in the 'education... middle of paper ...students, one of whom wears baggy pants and the other may measure his success by a deviant fashion statement. Based on my sole opinion, I believe that a student chooses to drop out of school for reasons beyond their control and not just because they are wearing a pair of baggy pants. First of all, anyone can drop out of college for a variety of reasons such as physical/mental issues, financial burdens, and family or personal issues, to name a few. Of course, anyone who wears saggy pants will likely be labeled a deviant, a delinquent. and criminal category but who is to say that a college student should measure his intelligence and success by wearing such clothing? In conclusion, Becker (1991) states: “people will be labeled as deviant if their actions do not meet the standards of their community even if a law has not been broken.”