Everything from underage drinking to cross-dressing to suicide can be understood as a form of deviance. However, these acts are not considered deviant in all contexts or at all points in history. In this class we will ask such questions as: Who decides if a behavior is deviant? How does our understanding of deviance change over time? What are the consequences of being labeled a deviant and how do people respond to such labeling? What role have organizations like the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association, as well as schools and the criminal justice system played in the construction and deconstruction of deviant categories? We will draw on sociological theory to explore these questions, discuss a wide variety of deviant behaviors and identities, including crime, mental illness, and "deviant" sexualities, and experiment by conducting deviant acts of our own.

This course is specifically designed for first-year students—no Organizational Studies experience required.

Intended Audience:

First year students

Class Format:

1.5-hour seminar twice weekly