13th did a good job at showing how prison systems are just another manifestation of American racism. It shows that prisons are just an extension of racial social control that has been rebranded to appease the public. It shows how little we have come and how much more work is left for social justice and racial reforms. #so345

13th connects back to one of H&H’s main aurgements that deviance is socially constructed. Prisons dictate how systems and people respond to crimes and what makes a criminal. #so345

I noticed that this article incorporates theories like the “broken window theory” but reframes it as a reaction to pressure and fear of policing. They want to avoid attention from the police rather than shaping their community for the better. Policing drives division and forces labels on people who seem “suspicious” and leads people to distant themselves from police and other “problematic” people. #so345

I think this article does a good job at explaining the impacts of street-level policing. We often think jail and prison are the main causes of disruption but these low level policing incidents can also accumulate and disrupt people’s lives. This increases a persons instability, job security, and their ability to provide for their families when they are constantly fearing police questioning, stops, and fines. #so345

The lack of regulation and consistency over police training is concerning. There should be a standardization of training along with psychological training, and culture/area specific guidelines. We set police up for failure when they are sent out with improper training. The public should not be fearful of the officers who are supposed to protect them but this warrior mentality frames suspects and communities as enemies and justifies execessive force. #so345

The Hunt article demonstrates how police form and exercise their own opinions on what “excessive force” is. Their often excessive use of force exceeds what the public sees an acceptable which prompts negative reactions to police. It shows that police are constantly battling whether to appear favorable as a public servant or strong and respected to another officer. The occupational culture and masculinity norms often shape how forceful an officer is. #so345

The communities that develop from the shared burden of stigma are particularly powerful. These deviant groups contest their restrictive normality by creating alternative communities where they can contribute meaningfully. It shows that social mobility can be gained from within and is strengthened by collective action. #so345

I think it’s important to note that stigma is not just a psychological discomfort that requires private reckoning but a result of political forces that shape someone’s social status and access to social mobility. We are quick to limit people’s mobility if they do not fit the mold to climb the social ladder. This often explains how people of color or people with disabilities have restricted mobility becuase of social presumptions rather than inherent ability #so345

This chapter demonstrated that in order to replace a deviant label with a positive self image, you cannot just address the stigmatizated label but also the social processes behind it. Society holds the power of perspective and individuals have to constantly negotiate with society’s constraints and view to minimize stigma’s effects. #so345

Staci’s story reminds me of how as a society we often look down on people with disabilities. We often pray for cures, fund research, and experience fear of the unknown but don’t stop to think that maybe people with disabilities see their condition as an integral part of their identity. Most are not looking for cures, but rather see it as society’s job to create more accepting spaces where everyone can contribute meaningfully. #so345