A good part of this course focuses on the labeling perspective, a perspective that stresses the ways in which individuals are labeled and stigmatized, and the consequences that this has on their identities and life experiences. While the course materials have dealt with how others have been labeled, we have all had the experience of being seen as deviant, “Other” or somehow “different” ourselves. The labeling may be the result of a physical characteristic (weight, acne, baldness, a physical or mental handicap), our race or ethnic background, a behaviour (smoking, “acting gay”, taking or refusing to take drugs), or a belief (religious, feminism, reincarnation).
The purpose of this assignment is to sensitize you to the insights of the labeling perspective by having you to apply the perspective to your own experiences. Your paper should address both the labeling itself and your response to it. For example, in relation to the labeling process, these are the questions that you could ask: In what ways were you seen as deviant? What norms were you seen as violating? Whose norms were you violating? What specific societal reactions were generated by your appearance, background, behaviours, or beliefs? In what situations? From which people? Provide examples of specific incidents. How strong were these reactions? What do you think were the reasons for these reactions – what sort of threat to others do you think this “deviance” presents? What is the stereotype attached to the label that was applied? What assumptions about you did those who labeled you make based on the label they had applied?
In relation to your response, you should consider the following questions: What did it feel like to be stigmatized and viewed as deviant? How did you deal with this stigmatization? How did you try to protect yourself (sense of self) from others’ negative appraisals of you? What “techniques of neutralization” or stigma management strategies did you use to manage your so-called deviant status? How did you try to counter the negative or stereotypical images others formed of you? Why did you use these particular techniques of neutralization? Was there a deviant subculture to which you could turn to in managing your deviant status? If so, did it make a difference, and in what ways did it help?
Though the focus should be on your experiences of being labeled, you should be using the language of labeling theory. The lectures and readings used in the course, particularly those that deal with entering a deviant career, developing a deviant identity, vocabularies of motive and stigma, will be helpful.
Finally, I want you to reflect on how the labeling perspective has helped you to understand your experience with deviance, and in turn, how this assignment has changed your appreciation for labeling theory.
To do a good job of this assignment you have to be prepared to explore this experience in an in-depth fashion. Choose something that you feel comfortable writing about and can discuss openly. Stay away from experiences you find too personal or issues that you may not want to confront in this way. Whatever you choose to write about, rest assured that your papers will be treated WITH THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE. You have the option of having Dr. Shaw read your paper should you so desire.
Though this may be an unconventional assignment in the sense that you will be writing in the first person (using the pronoun “I”), the normal expectations for university papers apply. This means clear and logical writing, proper grammar, complete sentences, proper word choice, good organization, consistent referencing (if relevant) and a neat, professional presentation. If you are paraphrasing or quoting directly from the course (or other) readings, you must properly cite your references – list the author(s) name, title of the article, journal, etc. The papers should be about 8-10 pages in length and will be due at the end of the day.
You may structure your paper (organize your ideas and statements) in any manner you wish. For example, you can take a chronological approach where you focus on a lifetime of experiences in which you were negatively labelled, or you may focus on a few memorable or life/self altering experiences in greater detail. You might also discuss how your conformity to social norms – being Vegan, abstaining from alcohol or drugs – “Othered” you in the eyes of your peers. This is up to you. Be sure to include a detailed discussion of labeling theory (what the theory focuses on, its tenets, etc.,) and associated concepts (deviant career, neutralizing techniques, stigma) in your paper – that is, be sure to define and explain the theories and concepts that you employ in your paper as part of your analysis. If you are discussing an experience of “Othering”, be sure to make the connection to deviance clear.
Important Details
Failure to include or manipulate the following will result in losing a mark for each infraction:
1” margins
12pt font
Double spaced
8-10 pages not including title page or bibliography
Title page – your name, student no., course info – e.g. Constructing Deviance 2CC3, name of your TA
Bibliography – if you use the courseware package or other texts as reference – be sure to properly cite all references
Page no. at the bottom right of every page
NO WIKIPEDIA or dictionary citations as references – you must use peer-reviewed academic sources, but you may also utilize lecture materials.
APA citation style only
FORMAT STYLE – WORD DOCUMENT ONLY (NO PDF).
Include your last name in the file name of your Word document
