Social Norms And Relationships

Have you ever done something so odd and so weird that you got hundreds of funny looks in your direction? Usually, when you get these looks, you are breaking some sort of social norm. Social norms are rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a society during certain situations, but breaking the social norms can be highly frowned upon in the social world we live in today. Certain social norms that are universally known include driving on the right side of the road, keeping a pinky promise and living by the golden rule. Social norms can keep a community together and running smoothly if used, but many people like to push the boundaries of normality to see what happens and how others will respond. Although, I do not embarrass easily, I thought it would be interesting to see people’s reactions if for just one day I violated a social norm.

This paper will address what social norms entail and what role they play within a society.

Social norms have been shaping the way people interact throughout history. While norms could be seen as something that confides behavior, it also maintains social order allowing certain behaviors to be accepted or to be evaded. The way people respond to a situation depends on the person’s normative beliefs or what they believe society should act.

Sociology can be used to explain the social norms and sanctions that are associated with everything that we do. In order to examine social norms, we must use the sociological imagination to make the familiar strange. To do that, we must critically think about the social interactions that take place around us and look at them from different points of view. I observed students interacting with each other and with dining hall employees in Campus Center Dining Hall (CCDH) in order to determine the social norms and sanctions that occur there.

There is a reason behind almost everything that humans do during everyday life. However, we do not think about why we waved back at the person across the street, we just do it. Interpreting that person’s wave and reacting to it by waving back, smiling, or nodding is a part of sociology. After taking a sociology class you realize all these everyday behaviors have meaning. Now, all of a sudden I found myself thinking sociologically when I get into an elevator, wait in line at the grocery store, or even how I view myself.

In comparison from the three generations of women in my family, including my grandmother, mother and myself the difference in women’s opportunity, freedoms and overall social norms have greatly changed. From expectations in the home, work, school and society there has been a large leap in positive alterations, many would agree that this change is for the better of societies overall functions. The biggest difference between the three generations of women was societies common idea that a woman belongs in the home. Although, this stereotype is still prevalent one can see a trend of raising young women to become independent and successful. Women have fought for their freedoms for many years and although there is still the question of true equality

Social norms have always played a major role in today's society. A social norm is how we consider behaviors to be appropriate. However, norms are the rules and guidelines regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable (Mills 1959). Social norms are essentially the means by which any given society may construct and organize itself. They are the ways in which a society defines what tends to be acceptable and unacceptable when it comes to an individual. Different views change over time whether it is through history or an individual themselves who tends to age. Sometimes staying up to date with society and keeping up with the new trends can be unhealthy and have an effect on individuals and the public. The social norm I choose to break was walking into a public men's restroom at a restaurant while out with friends. I choose this social norm because it shows the men's reactions and behaviors once I entered their restroom. However, their behaviors showed how society acts toward certain situations in certain places and what roles are played during the process.

“Children are natural born explorers” (Paredes, 2014). They question everything and seek answers to feed their never ending curiosity. As a child, I remember asking my parents what the purpose of school was. I would ask them questions such as Why do I go to school? What happens if I don’t go? and Why was school created? In response, my parents would tell me that school is important because it provides an environment where I can learn, and they would say that without an education, I had no future. They would also say that since all little children go to school, I have to go as well. I never really understood the purpose behind education when I was younger, but nonetheless I continued to go to school and learn and grow simply because going to school, in itself, is considered to be a social norm. Now that I am older, I am able to decipher what the purpose of education is. In fact, education serves multiple purposes. Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons both argued that “education is meant to bind members of society together- it creates social unity and solidarity” (Thompson, 2008). While Emile Durkheim proposed this theory, Parsons was able to develop it; he

The media is currently largely responsible in creating and reminding people of the existence of gender roles and social norms, which consequently influences children. Aside from media, parents are the most responsible in the upbringing of their child. That being said, parents can choose to control what they teach their child and steer them away from the societal norms of certain gender roles, but they don’t have control over the media’s content. Sometimes, parents can’t help if they give their daughter a Barbie doll and their son a Batman action figure, because they don’t realize it and they themselves were raised to understand that girls are supposed to like this and do that and boys are supposed to like that and do this. It’s all a chain

Social control involves rules of behavior that those of society follow. Without these rules or the knowledge of how members of society follow these rules, there is no way to enforce laws. Without this knowledge there is no law, therefore law is a form of social control. This Political Sociology course helps those who want to proceed in the field of law; including myself, due to gaining the knowledge of how the government regulates the activities of those individuals in a society and how those individuals act within that said environment.

Social norms are what the world or society view as acceptable ways to act. A social norm that I tend to follow would be facing the front when riding on an elevator. This is one that I assume most people follow, but I have actually been in a situation where someone walked on an elevator while they were texting and never turned around. I had never thought about that being socially normal until someone didn’t face the door. However, it is only normal because the majority believes it’s normal.

Something that struck me reading this article was the claim that gender is determined by societal norms. What gives society the right to deem the color pink a girly color and black a boy color. What gives society the right to determine playing with dolls is for girls and playing with cars is for guys? Why do we have to put labels on things? This is part of the reason there are so many people who are confused with their identity in the world. A guy may have some habits that are considered “girly”. All of a sudden he thinks he needs a sex change because society is telling him he acts like a girl. While we cannot allow ourselves to be defined by society any longer, we cannot allow ourselves to define other people. The only way to stop the stereotypes

I felt extremely uncomfortable and like a complete intruder when I violated this norm and I honestly wouldn’t want anyone to do it to me. Personally, I do demand others to respect and be mindful of my personal space. In order to have an effective interaction with other people, it is very important that we understand spatial behavior and spatial needs. Respecting other’s territories is such a basic social norm but sometimes people forget to practice it which creates problems with other people and chaos within societies. Spatial norms should be learned since infancy to such extent that they should become unconscious and almost habitual. Social norms create stability, standardized behaviors, and a shared understanding of what’s expected from

If you saw a child dancing in the middle of a hotel lobby you’d probably giggle and think to yourself how cute it is however, if you saw a grown man partaking in the same behavior you’d probably think he’s under the influence or just plain crazy. This man is doing a harrowing thing, doing what he actually wants to do instead of what society and his peers expect him to do. These unwritten laws of society are what we refer to as “social norms”. Social norms are something I’ve been aware of since I hit middle school however, It didn’t hit me how they truly affected us as people until a few months ago while I was sitting at a booth in a pancake house with my friends. When a man that would change my view on society walked in the door. Although American

Today's society faces a lot of challenges in addressing, adhering to and adapting to changes in cultural and social norms. What people refer to as normal human behavior in one society can normally be seen as wrong in another. One of the most social