Deviant Behavior Seminar

Required Texts

(1) White Man Falling -- Abby L. Ferber

(2) Inventing the Savage: The Social Construction of Native American Criminality -- Luana Ross

(3) Night Market: Sexual Cultures and the Thai Economic Miracle -- Ryan Bishop and Lillian Robinson

(4) Elite Deviance, 6th ed. -- David Simon

(5) (Optional purchase but we will read a few sections from this text.) Images of Deviance and Social Control: A Sociological History -- Stephen Pfohl

(6) Occasionally articles may be distributed in class to supplement the readings

Course Description

The main objectives of this course are to expand your knowledge of the sociological and social-psychological theories of deviant behavior, of historical perspectives of deviance as they relate to social change, to the ways in which deviance is constructed within a moral framework of society, and to further develop critical thinking skills concerning the process of deviance definition and control.

Student Responsibilities

1. This is a graduate seminar. It is critical that you attend every class meeting, be prepared for discussion, discuss the readings, be professional in your presentations and interactions, and be on time for class. For each week I expect one article chosen on your own that provides a contemporary discussion of the issue being addressed. Simply turn in a copy of the title page and I will create a bib list for everyone. 25 pts.

2. Encyclopedia entry - group project - 75 pts. Required phase one due Feb 8, optional phase due May 7.

3. Paper and presentation - individual project - 125 pts. Due NO LATER than the night you present -- April 26 or May 3.

4. Attend and critique Ninotchka Rosca's keynote address at the Women and Power Conference, Feb 20, 1:30p.m. - 25 pts.

5. Mid-term exam - Due no later than Mar 22, 100 pts.

6. Final exam - Due no later than May 5, 100 pts.

Grading

Final grades will be computed through a simple tally of points using the following scale:

Offices and Office Hours

e-mail: jaeller@frank.mtsu.edu
webpage: http://www.mtsu.edu/~jaeller

109B Peck Hall (Women's Studies) 898-5910

1417 E. Main (Sociology/Anthropology Annex) 898-2125; FAX 898-2125

Other times by appointment.

Jan 11 Introductions
-- What is deviance and what is the perspective of this class? Constructionism and critical perspectives
-- Read Chapters 9 and 10 in Pfohl
-- Discussion of cultural deviance project

18 MLK remembrance

25 Deviance as demonic possession, "sinful hedonism" or simply "immoral" choices -- morality claims and lifestyle decisions
-- (reference) Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 9 in Pfohl

Feb 1 Deviance as crime of the disreputable
-- (reference) Chapters 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in Pfohl

8 Deviance as sickness -- medicalization of deviance
-- (reference) Chapter 4 in Pfohl
-- Cultural deviance project due -- phase one required

15 Gender, sex work and international issues -- Night Market

20 Ninotchka Rosca keynote

22 "Sex work" and international issues -- pornography, FGM, and rape/torture
-- reading assignments forthcoming

Mar 1 "Race" and the construction of deviance -- White Man Falling
-- Mid Term take home exam Exam

8 Guest speaker possible

15 Spring Break

22 Inventing the Savage

29 -- Mid term exam due

April 5 Class and the construction of deviance -- Elite Deviance

12

19 catch-up??
-- Final exam take home

26 Student Presentations -- papers due

May 3 Student Presentations -- papers due

5 Final exams due!

7 Cultural deviance project due -- phase two optional

Deviance Bibliography