Paedophilia Labelling and Moral Panics

Paedophilia Labelling and Moral Panics Social groups create deviance by making rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsidersThe deviant is one to whom the label has successfully been applied; deviant behavior is behavior that people so label (Becker, 1963: 8-14). This essay will examine the process of labelling a person as deviant; in this case the paedophile; the moral clampdown on the paedophile and the rise of public concern with the assistance of the mass media, resulting in moral panic and the consequences that follow. The Australian Concise Oxford dictionary (1992) defines deviance as meaning, the act or state of diverging from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behaviour. This definition doesnt illuminate the diversity of deviations within mainstream society, nor the consequences involved when a person is labelled deviant. The simple act of labelling an outsider as deviant implies that any person deviating from their cultural norms and values are engaging in misconduct, that their actions are harmful to society, they are selfish, evil and must be stopped (Goode, Nachman: 29). Like beauty, labelling is in the eye of the beholder (Sagrin: 124), an act of deviance to one, may not be a deviant act to another (online Social Construction and labelling). Sociologists use the term deviance not in an evaluative sense but to refer to departure from conventional norms and values (Nathanson, Paulhus, Williams). Sociologists have many theories regarding deviance; however we will examine the Labelling Theory which focuses on deviance as a socially constructed phenomenon rather than being conducted inherently (Giddens: 2009). The Labelling theory is a sociological perspective that can be used to investigate deviant acts (Smith online); according to Giddens (2009:1123) it has become a dominant paradigm in explaining deviance. The term Labelling originated in Lemerts writings during the 1950s and subsequently developed through Becker, during the 1960s (Smith, Blackwell). Becker states that deviance is created by society, whereby the cultures in which you are socialised establish the rules to be adhered to, consequently any deviations of those rules will illustrate disapproval (in Sagrin: 126) whereby the deviant may or may not be labelled. The theory has been adapted by many Sociologists, who have various definitions of the concept (Sagarin: 3). The theory suggests that actors become deviant due to the acts they commit, what follows is a gradual shift, where all acts committed by the deviant person is labelled as suspicious (Sagrin:123). Lemert referred to the two propositions constituting the theory as primary and secondary deviation. Deviation opposed to deviance, as all people deviate occasionally from norms within society (Sagrin: 124). According to Lemert two things happen when an act of deviation occ urs, the first is the deviation label that is imposed by others, this suggests that they are not normal, they are evil and should not be part of the community (Sagrin:124). Secondary deviation frequently causes more harm than the primary act itself, once labelled, the actor becomes fearful and paranoid, characteristics develop from low self-esteem to self-hate (Sagrin: 124) Labelling shuns offenders and treats them as outcasts and may provoke a rebellious and criminal reaction from them (Karp 1998: 283; Maxwell and Morris 1999). As Erikson suggests a moment of deviation may become the measure of a persons position in society (in Rubington: 25). The Oxford English Dictionary defines a paedophile as a person with paedophilia, that is, an abnormal sexual love of children. According to Bill Glaser it is not a love of children but a lust for them (In James: 6). Paedophilia is an extremely complex issue, where characteristics are not easily defined; paedophiles do not fit into one sub-cultural group within society. They lack a set of symbols that divide them from the norm, they do not have a notable dress style, verbal or prominent body language to highlight that they are deviant (in Rubington: 5). Paedophiles are from any ilk; they may be well educated or not; rich or poor; married or unmarried; employed or unemployed, they are found in every suburb; they are family members and neighbours, guardians and social workers, child care workers and teachers, coaches and football heroes, church leaders and politicians, judges and doctors, anybody (James 1996:1) (Paedophilia, policy and prevention PDF). Becker states that the only thing deviants have in common is, they share the label and the experience of being labelled as outsiders (1963:11) The mass media and other control agencies have status and power that is used to publicly label an offender, what is created sociologists call moral panic (Giddens: 949). During the 1960s sociologist Stanley Cohen introduced Folk Devils and Moral Panics, depicting the mass medias exaggerations regarding youth disturbances at a British seaside resort. Folk Devils and Moral Panics, currently a term widely adopted by sociologists interested in the relationship between the media and the public. The paedophile depicts the Folk Devil, the outsider, the deviant that deserves targets of self-righteous anger, hostility and punishment (Goode, Nachman: 31). According to Critcher the paedophile is a classic Folk Devil. The moral panic surrounding the paedophile isnt necessarily about what he is doing but the fears and anxieties that is represented (in Marsh, Melville, 2009: 61-65). The mass media exposes the paedophile as an external threat; this creates a moral panic focusing attention on the dangers that paedophilic sex offenders pose outside the home, however statistics prove that it is often a trusting figure within the community that is the perpetrator (Cowburn, M. , Dominelli, L: 2-3). The paedophile priest is an example of a socially constructed folk devil, he is respected within the community, he has status and power which is used to gain trust. It has long been theorized that strict religious teachings on sexuality are capable of causing abnormal behaviour the Churchs teachings on sexuality lead[s] to a development of sexual dysfunction amongst its priests (Vexen 2009). According to Cohen if something triggers a threat and if conditions are right, a moral panic can suddenly appear and disappear just as quickly. Moral panics ensue when reaction to this development is amplified by agents of social control (Cohen 1980:9). Any panic caused by the paedophil e priest is promptly concealed by the Church; the priest in concern is relocated, rehabilitated or placed on leave until the moral panic diminishes (Vexen 2009). The Moral panic relates to the overreaction of the mass media, police and local community authorities (Germov and Poole: 509) in hope that their agenda items acquire priority and implantation, and also to raise anxiety and risk levels in the public so criminal justice and political systems will be pressured to employ additional laws and order policies. In America for example, Megans law was passed three months after seven-year-old, Megan Kanta was sexually assaulted and murdered by a neighbouring paedophile (Hinds, 1997: ). The Moral panic surrounding Megans death, therefore implemented new notification laws. Names and addresses of sex offenders are placed on sex offender registries to notify families of any perpetrators that may live close by. Registers conversely raise problems of labelling, secondary deviance, scapegoating and moral panic (Lemert, 1967, Szasz, 1970, Cohen, 1987 in Ronken C., Lincoln R.). Recently in Hobart, The Collectors ABC, high profile television presenter, Andy Muirhead was charged during February this year with viewing child internet pornography, again in June for possession of material (Amanda Mead, June 12 2010 The Australian). Although the content is not known, Muirhead is labelled, as an outsider, a Folk Devil, a sex offender. Australia currently does not have a sex offender register and many people oppose the idea. Publicly labelling on a registry, in many cases can do more harm than good (Fitch 2006) The scope of sex offences that are on the register and labelled as paedophile are extensive, for instance a girl in Georgia who had been placed on the register following conviction of sodomy is alongside the most evil of child sex offenders imaginable (Vexen). A paedophile that is on a registery is a labelled paedophile for life. Following prison and reinstatement, life chances decrease through alienation (Vexen 2.2). Vigilante groups often take action forcin g the offender out of the community. The following music track by The Christians depicts the feelings of an outsider once labelled as deviant; Youre the man with no choice, yes its been decided youve done wrong. And theres single voice that will stand up and say, oh just what has he done?For they all read the news, and its surely proof enough for them. And they flatly refuse to consider, oh, was he really to blame?(When the fingers point music track by The Christians) The Media is responsible for deliberately and unnecessarily amplifying public fears about crime, the current social construction of the paedophile creates a media-orchestrated moral panic where imagery by the media influence public awareness (Cowburn, M., Dominelli, L: 2).They constantly argue that sex offenders are different; they cannot be treated and will reoffend (James). The media instils images through News headings such as; AFP crack Facebook paedophile porn ring, Police swoop on child sex offenders (online), Man jailed after pleading guilty to possessing more than 50,000 images of child pornography (Herald Sun online) and Hundreds of children exposed to sex offenders in Victoria. These are some headings that would make it difficult for anyone reading the latest news not to have come to the wrong conclusion that every paedophile is a homicidal maniac (Ryan, 2003:2). The media also emphasises the view of the sex offender as a threatening stranger from whom the innocent public must be protected (Kitzinger, 1999). Stranger danger, a prime example of misrepresentation by the media who would like us to believe that paedophilia is committed by complete strangers; randomly assaulting unknown children, victims as mentioned above are often children who already have an established social relationship with the perpetrator (James: 1). The Moral panic surrounding stranger danger often results in parents undertaking risk management strategies such as acknowledging the sex offender registry and consuming necessary items to protect their children. Mobile telephones, surveillance cameras, internet safety options and monitoring all help ease any fear of moral panic instilled by the media. Danish parents have gone to extremes by enrolling their children in day care centres that have webcams. Children can be viewed throughout the working day via the internet with a secure password, parents can have peace of mind knowing that their children are safe (Jorgensen, V). Conclusion: A person is deviating from social norms once labelled so. Therefore the act of paedophilia is not deviant until the actor is labelled as a paedophile. Once the label has been applied through the exaggeration imposed by the authorities and the mass media, the actor becomes isolated, fearful and alienated. The labelled paedophile experiences decreased life chances due to vigilantism that is provoked, often the paedophile lives in danger in prison and following reinstatement due to the pubic sex offender registry. More moral panics will be generated and other, as yet nameless, folk devils will be created. This is not because such developments have an inexorable inner logic, but because our society as present structured will continue to generate problems for some of its membersand then condemn whatever solution these groups find [Cohen 1987:204]. A moral crusade is established by the media so that people are prepared to accept authoritarian and social controls such as new laws as solutions to the sex offender problems.

cordless tech :: essays research papers fc

A Cordless Future Wireless technology, from cell phones to business networks is revolutionizing the world we live in. Now we can access the Internet while in our cars, on the beach, and even at dinner. This wave of technology will soon be felt in full force as we begin to travel with the assistance of a computer, run businesses with high quality networks, and check last nights game on our digital phones and personal digital assistants (PDA). Advancements made by wireless technology are allowing us greater degrees of freedom, security, and efficiency. Cars are feeling the wave of wireless technology as we speak. â€Å"General Motors Corp.’s navigation systems subsidiary, OnStar Communications, will provide drivers voice access to the Internet, starting with 30 of its 2001 models. The OnStar service provides airbag deployment notification, remote door unlocking, location services, stolen-vehicle tracking, and remote diagnostics† (Wallace). It is easy to see why this techn ology is sought after, authorities will arrive on the seen faster, thieves will be detoured, and locking one’s keys in the car wont incorporate the vandalistic approach once used. Also it is figured that 50-80% of all cellular phone calls are made from vehicles, with this new technology voice activated technology, users can expect to have both hands free while talking. â€Å"With the new services, drivers will set up profiles from their desktop PC that are then kept on servers in OnStar’s service centers. With a hands free, voice-activated interface, OnStar subscribers will use voice prompts, such as â€Å"Start my E-mail† or â€Å"Start my stock quotes† to receive information via the Internet. The service will convert Internet text to speech and read the information via synthesizes voice† (Wallace). And if that isn’t enough, the price ranges from $199 to $399 a year, a great buy, as it will cut one’s insurance bill down to size. Truc king companies are also using wireless connections to the Internet. â€Å"Wireless Internet access is just fine with ePaccar, a division of truck maker Paccar Inc. in Mt Vernon, Wash. The unit is building a package that will let truck driver’s access more than weather and directions using a wireless Windows CE device in their cabs. The commercial transportation industry is working on razor-thin profit margins and is fiercely competitive, so the ability to provide the fastest and most fuel-efficient route saves truckers time and money. And providing them with wireless access to load-brokering sites lets them pick up more cargo and make more money without deviating much from their original route† (Wallace, â€Å"Wireless Everything†).

Pollution and Transport.Docx Uploaded Successfully Essay

Topic essay: types of pollution Industrilization is more and more developing. This accompanied by pollution. The three main types of environmental pollution are land pollution, air pollution, water pollution. The first type of pollution is land pollution. Land pollution is the earrth’s surface and soil, directly or indirectly as a result of human activities. The earth’s natural land is surface by industrial, commercial, domestic and angricultural activities. The second types of pollution is air pollution. Air pollution is pollution of the air which can affect the health, surviral or activities of many organism’s, including humans. Pollution of the air is the accumulation of hazardous substances into the atmosphere that danger human life and other living matter. The final types of pollution is water pollution. Water pollution is the introduction of chemical, biological and physical matter into large bodies of water that degrade the quality of life . that live in it and consumes it. Water pollution can also make water unsuited for the desired use. In conclusion, environment is very important to our live. Without land, we wouldn’t have the foods to eat. Without air, we couldn’t be able to breathe. Without water, we couldn’t live more than 5 days. Topic essay: The important of transportation Transportation is very important to any nation. All towns produce or need products. Those products must get there somehow. There are three main important of transportation: reduce the physical separation of different countries, one of the importance aids to trade and help people transfer easier. Firstly, transport reduce the physical separation of different countries. nowadays we can travel easier by air plant or the other transport from a country to another country.. Even we can travel to the other planet with transport. We just take about 1, 2 hours or more to transfer from a place to another place instead of 1 day, 1 weeks or more . Secondly, transport is one of the importance aids to trade. All trade of wealth and productive labor involves transportation, whether it is the movement of goods or the movement of people from their homes to their jobs or their  homes to the places where they shop. In other words, the global society would not have comfort and convenience had it not been for advancements in the transportation sector. Trade is essential to economic vitality, and transportation is essential to trade. There would not have been any great infrastructure, industrialisation, or massive production, if transportation was incompetent. Finally, transport help people transfer easier. It’s so easy to move around on transport. Without air plant, train or the other transport, this would so difficult to transfer, travel or trade. In conclusion, Nothing is more important to civilization than transportation and communication. Trade is essential to economic vitality, and transportation is essential to trade.

To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway Essay - 946 Words

To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingways novel, To Have and Have Not, is about a man named Harry. Harry is a fisherman, and when he goes fishing he brings along a black man named Wesley. Eddy, who is a rummy, and Mr. Johnson who chartered Harrys boat also accompanied him on one of his fishing expeditions. On this fishing journey that Harry and all of his colleagues had taken, Harry said to Mr. Johnson, I think youre going to have a chance to fight one today. About that time Mr. Johnson had a fish on his line. He kept on pulling on the fishing line and giving it slack. For a few moments, they all thought that the fish mighty be dead, but after he got off of the line they knew that Mr. Johnson had messed†¦show more content†¦Mr. Singer wanted Harry to charter him the boat and he did not want Harry to be on the boat when it arrived, but Harry had objections to that. He said that he went on the boat wherever it went. Harry would also have to take a dozen compatriots on the boat with him. Late tha t night Harry went to pick up the shipment. When they meet up with Mr. Singer he told Harry that he would get twelve hundred dollars if he did the job right. They loaded the cargo, boarded the boat, and sailed out into the ocean. On this trip Harry also carried along Eddy, the rummy, with him. When they got out to sea, Harry took out his Winchester 30-30 and shot Mr. Singer. After he shot him, he threw him overboard. Harry headed back toward land to unload the cargo. He also let Eddy off the boat, because he was shocked that Harry had killed Mr. Singer and he was afraid that Harry might try to kill him too. After a couple of months had passed, a guy by the name of Bee-lips had another job for Harry. It was to ship someone liquor. After they had gotten through with all their planning, Harry went to the house. He told his wife Marie that he had to make another trip, and he wanted her to wake him before daylight; so she did. The day after he had his job, he went to Freddys place. While he was there Bee-lips came in and told him that customs had just went out to take his boat. Harry got that kill look in his eyes and he got very mad at Bee-lips.Show MoreRelatedCubas Hell in The Old Man and the Sea as well as To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway565 Words   |  2 PagesMan and the Sea, as well as To Have and Have Not, Earnest Hemingway portrays life in Cuba in various disconcerting ways. Through accounts of loss and death, Hemingway creates stories of true disparity in both novels. And it is through poverty, the cornerstone of both The Old Man and the Sea as well as To Have and Have Not, that the lives of numerous Cuban citizens are reduced to an utter hell. 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