Moral Entrepreneurs-
people (rule creators)
that make deviance
Moral Panic-created by rule
creators; threat of society
promotes terror. Goal to
achieve dominance of moral
perceptions/values.
Moral Conversion- rule
creators convince others of
their views
Social Power through Labeling-
certain groups with high social power
define deviance apply labels to others.
Money through politics/social
class and laws through
race/ethnicity/gender/age subordination
Privileged groups fight labels
to maintain positive image
Drug Scares & Drug Laws
1) Temperance Movement against alcohol
(late 1800s). Ended with prohibition laws of
1919. Made alcohol scapegoat for deviance.
3) Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914: 6 year nationwide scare
against opiates/cocaine because of addict pop. shifting to white
middle class to working class/African Americans.
2) Antiopium den ordinance of 1875. First real
drug law. Campaign targeted eliminating the
mass of Chinese immigrants in tight job market.
4) Illegalization of Weed in 1937: used racial fears,
class conflict, & manipulated press, nicknaming it
"killer weed" used solely for pleasure
Contain 7 Ingredients: (1 Kernel of Truth (2 Media
Magnification (3 Politico-Moral Entrepreneurs (4
Professional Interest Groups (5 Historical Context
of Conflict (6 Linking a Form of Drug Use to a
"Dangerous Class" (7 Scapegoating a Drug for a
Wide Array of Public Problems
Used to advance capitalism to build a
post modern, mass consumption culture
Status Politics create successful moral crusades
from privileged class. Moral entreprenuer
mobilize power through threat & public awareness,
create solution & overcome resistence.
Claimsmakers seek concern
about social problems w/press,
public, policymakers
Good or bad, they construct social problems
Blowback- unanticipated negative
consequence of social action.
Claimsmaking Rhetoric via Disney
Christian Right- attacked Disney as a
front for counter-cultural values via
affiliates such as MIramax
Progressives- argue Disney
teaches kids to learn
capitalism, sexism, etc.
Social Scientists-
megaconglomerate puts
profit-making above all other goals
Legitimated Suppression of Minority Communties
Police gang units target Mexican people
hidden via code words. Aggressive
differential policing created divide w/barrio
& police
Created "ecological contamination:" gangs are contagious in
poor communities. Supports "minority group threat" theory- rise
of ppl of color generates moral panic.
Police legitimatized social control of
poor/minority communities to include
perceived crime.
Homophobia & Women's Sport
Research concluded athletes have
internalized social stereotypes- women
athletes are lesbians & negativism
toward lesbiansim.
Women athletes accepted stereotype and
exhibit homophobia themselves
Created disempowerment for women athetes,
reducing their potential. Actual lesbian
athletes deny their status, making lesbian
athlete invisible.
Mark of a Criminal Record
Having a criminal record leads to
consequences of employment.
Race effects employment opportunities.
Combined w/criminal record
employment is near impossible
"Crime control" policies exacerbate the
conditions that cause initial crime
Saints & Roughnecks
Roughneck youth was labeled deviant bc of
poor class, though they were less deviant.
Youths accepted label and most grew up to be
deviants.
Saints, though more deviant than
Roughnecks, were privileged class. Labeled as
"good" and all but 1 grew up to be successful.
ex: Community
reinforcement of
class & deviance
Medical Crime & Deviance
Health care fraud $42 to $80
billion annually
Doctors use their altruistic image,
social status, & self-regulation to create
white collar deviance
Types
Billing Schemes- over, duplicate
billing, or billing when no service
provided