Reference no: EM133455115

Question

Norms in society can serve to regulate and dictate human behavior. As such, norms also have the ability to clarify and, according to sociologists, create deviance. Rules, by nature, define what is rule-breaking. To break the rules is to be deviant. Deviance is simply the absence of conformity to social norms. For example, when a little boy plays with dolls or a little girl plays with trucks, that behavior is contrary to usual gender expectations or norms. Another example is the changing norm about who pays for dinner when a man and woman are on a first date. Or consider the Family and Medical Leave Act, which opened the door for both male and female employees to be more present for their families during times of health crisis or new life.