Social norms guide people on the paths to take and how to relate. Various cultures are guided differently based on country, tribe, race, and cultural practices. Western and African cultures are different since the latter is formed by beliefs that dictate the dressing mode of elder-youth interaction. People deviate from these norms and offend others through crimes, but there is always social control (Spelman, 2022). The paper reflects on these social norms and the changes over time through deviation, social governance, and crime.
Violating social norms can be stated as deviation, raising adverse reactions. Performing some cultural activities in Africa followed social norms. For example, many African tribes performed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), allowing artistic practice. Through education and cultural changes, people unlearned the mutilation culture. This case is an excellent example of deviance since the founders, unlearning this norm, deviated, hiding and running from the activity (Spelman, 2022). The negativity raised in society is that they are not part of the population for deviating from the norm. In the present world, FGM is no longer practiced.
Deviation in some activities is standard when people yearn to be modern. Modernization significantly impacts social norms because, in the early years, greeting the elderly on the way or any other place was a social norm. The youth do not mind greetings and bowing whenever they meet elders. Deviation follows the time and space aspect through which the gap is incorporated into society after some time. Though negative opinions and views exist, they do not prevent deviants from their actions.
Dressing in ancient Africa was unique, and trousers were not part of clothing. Deviant behavior depends on the occurrence and time. The change in dressing during the Christianity era was thought to be decent because the dresses were long. With time, ladies ventured into short skirts that were culturally wrong. They were considered not fit to dine with Christ in church. After struggling with short-dressing behavior, people accepted nature, which is part of the youth culture.
Deviating from sex acts is unethical and culturally condemned. In the past, women were not empowered and could not raise complaints about their daily experiences (Spelman, 2022). Daughters and adopted children were raped in the past due to the absence of regulations and governing laws on this issue. Most domestic violence depends on the weakness associated with women. Various statutes and women empowerment boards have been established to enhance women’s safety.
Killing as a soldier is acceptable during wartime since it is a protection means. The person is considered a hero but killing on another basis is a crime. Honor killing in western culture is a crime that must be condemned to prevent more related crimes. The history of its appearance shows that it was done to female adulterous in ancient Rome (Spelman, 2022). In the Christianity era, unfaithful women were to be buried arrive. In both situations, it was unfair to punish someone with death due to a cultural commitment. Killing in prison was sentenced to death too, but the crime now has other sentence policies. Famous prison killings are diminishing because they can be punished through life imprisonment.
The process was also standard in Indian culture when ladies tried to save their lives from forced marriages. Being the alpha race to independence choices was abominable in this culture that called for this crime to correct these activities. These people came up with means to accept the alternatives to enhance lives. Honor killing in the culture was controlled socially by incorporating positivity as part of individual choices.
Social control prevents the violation of social norms in society. The application helps people follow the best through informal ways since the formal ones seem strict. Informal ones involve the negative impacts and thoughts from culture hence the fear of violating them (Spelman, 2022). Legal norms are not followed because the government punishes offenders. In most cases, an individual mental condition may control the judgment and sentence verdicts. Federal regulatory policies are involved in these social control ways.
Though social control is not imperfect, violation of norms is ordinary. It is impossible to have a culture or society where deviance does not occur. People explore through collective science, where they learn new things and try them; deviance comes from observation and practice (Spelman, 2022). Social control cannot control rule-breaking fully because even saints can deviate. Deviance is a growth aspect that brings social growth through invention and innovation. It promotes a healthy society when people accept and continue practicing the changes.
In conclusion, the three social aspects interrelate and bring societal development. With negativity existence, people learn and unlearn old ways of life, incorporating change and invention. Crimes can be controlled slowly through social control by developing new policies to regulate them. The legal should establish standard measures to prevent violent crimes. Though formalized mechanisms and convectional standards are essential, strengthening women is also significant in crime control. Social functionality and chaos control embrace mutual unity and relationships in the land population. It is recommendable to build political freedom to ensure all the social aspects run smoothly according to culture and change.
Reference
Spelman, W. (2022). Why birth cohorts commit crime at different rates. Social Science Research, 102, 102628. Web.