Teenage Pregnancy as Deviant Behavior

Paper Summary:

This paper covers the definition of deviance and explains why teenage pregnancy is considered a deviant behavior, as well as the consequences of such labeling. It shows how, today, most Americans believe teenage pregnancy is deviant or goes against societal norms and describes how this norm is changing. It also discusses the way that Americans view teenage sexuality differs considerably from other countries, such as France, Germany, and Holland, and how in these three countries, early sexuality is much more acceptable. Finally, it provides some suggestions of what can be done to improve the teenage pregnancy situation.

From the Paper:

"Sociologists Earl Rubington and Martin S. Weinberg note that the definition of deviance differs as much as what can be deviant and approach the topic in an alternate way. They see two main schools of thought: deviance as objective reality and deviance as subjective experience. Those who adhere to the objective approach stress the importance of norms and values of any given society at the structural level, with any differentiation from these considered deviant. This perspective is based on three assumptions: 1) there is consensus throughout society concerning norms and values and thus deviance is easily recognized; 2) deviance generally evokes negative sanctions against and attitudes toward the deviants and their actions; and 3) the punishment of the deviant reaffirms for the group that they are bound by common norms and values."

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