Examining Challenges and Solutions to Crime and Deviance

Examining challenges and solutions to crime and deviance
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Introduction
Deviance refers to any behavior, which defies social norms. Such deviant behaviors can be non-criminal or criminal. At the present Americans regard activities such as stealing, refusing to have a bath, lying, being nude in the public, buying services from prostitutes, alcoholism, cross-dressing, excessive gambling and others as deviant. People who involve in deviant behaviors are known as deviants. Deviance is a complex concept since social norms significantly vary across groups, communities, places, and times. This is to say that what one community may regard an act as acceptable while another group may consider such as deviant. For instance, in certain regions of Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia, the practice of women circumcision is acceptable. Nevertheless, in America, female genital mutilation (female circumcision) is unthinkable and unacceptable practice. The aim of this paper focuses on both examining why people defy against social norms and understanding problems and solutions to deviance and crime.
Problems and challenges which exist in crime and deviance
Deviance and crime have created many problems and challenges that have remained controversial to address in the society. For instance, the general public and even media often see individuals who dress differently as deviant. These have negative effects on groups (especially women) who have been socially stigmatized by the public and the media. McCaghy (2008) explains that a social deviance may not be illegal, though social condemnation towards these people often makes them considered as criminals. Sexual deviance leads to stigmatization. Homosexuality is a good example that is regarded as deviant. The lesbians and gays have been stereotyped and labeled deviant; they are regarded as intrinsically bad in the society. Such stigmatization has made lesbians and gays to feel low self-esteem, and consequently involve in reckless sexual behavior. Many people in the society still treat pedophilia and homosexuality as diseases or disorders. These perceived deviant behaviors have serious consequences. Apart from legal implications, people who are victimized sexually do suffer psychologically, and many are known to have attempted committing suicide.
Legal deviance is another problem that is seen among people who do not conform to the rules of laws established by the society. Breaking the law is something that obviously leads to incarceration. Breaking the law has negative effects on the entire society. People, who involve on robbery or commit murder, usually cause emotional and financial consequences to the victims. While criminals can ruin their lives completely; in the working sector, employers are not willing to employ convicted felons (Humphrey and Schmalleger, 2012). Furthermore, it is known that religion plays a significant role in the American society. Christians and Muslims can practice their religious practices without any problem. However, deviant behaviors have been seen when deviant Muslims involve in violent and criminal activities across various parts of the world. Many victims continue losing their lives due to criminal and terror...