Social Deviance in Relation to Tattoos

Yesterday in class, we read an extremely long article about a survey linking the defiance of others with the types and amount of body art that they have. I found this very interesting and have been thinking about it ever since. The survey did not cover a wide variety of people. It was mainly focused on white college students. I feel that if the survey were expanded, the results would have changed drastically. Yes, people that get tattoos and piercings are likely to be more rebellious than those who would never dare. But along with that statement, you could bring in a ton of "what if" questions. What if the people that get tattoos are just more free spirited? What if THAT is what links them to social deviance rather than the tattoos themselves. What if people who get tattoos and piercings are known to be more artistic? Could that be the link to their rebellious behaviors or out of the ordinary appearance? Possibly there are people who have tried and failed fitting into other social groups, so they choose the rugged, tattooed, hard core life because unlike other social cliques, you don't have to talk to other people. In fact, the more you keep to yourself or the more mean things that you say to people, the "harder" you appear. Any number of these could be the relation between tattoos and social deviance. Maybe that isn't the connection at all. Maybe tattoos and social deviance are solely "side effects" of a bigger picture. I, myself, want tattoos. But that does not mean that I partake in rebellious actions. I simply love art in any form, and want to draw and design my own tattoos for the rest of the world to see. Some people get tattoos as a sort of memorial for their loved ones that have passed. Some people get tattoos as a reminder of something important to them. Some people get tattooed merely for the fact that they love artwork. It would be entirely too difficult to come to the assumption that people with tattoos are more rebellious, without asking each and every person the reason for having their body art. I may be wrong, and many of you may disagree, but this is entirely my opinion.

Lady Gaga: Born This Way Foundation

Although Lady Gaga is loved by some and hated by others, I, myself, have loved her from the beginning. I believe that the image that she creates for herself is inspiring and also very creative. You can not make a dress out of meat, bubbles, stuffed animals or any other strange medium if you do not have creativity. Along with setting the example for people to be different herself, she has also started a non profit organization called the Born This Way Foundation. This is a program that encourages young adults to be accepting of others and "challenge meanness and cruelty" says Gaga herself. She, along with some other famous friends, has recently held an assembly at Harvard University to help raise awareness about bullying and self harm. Everyone is born different. It is simply the way we let society mold us that determines whether we let our differences shine through.... or not. I believe that she is an inspiration to many. What are your thoughts?

http://www.getmusic.com.au/ladygaga/news/detail?id=2863

The Struggle of Mormon Polygamy vs. Legality

"Plural Marriage" or "Polygamy" was practiced openly between 1852 and 1890 by certain religious members called Mormons. These were people who followed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was not uncommon for a typical male to have anywhere from 2-8 wives, whereas, a church or community "leader" would have an average of 10-20 wives. The wives of these men were expected to cook, clean/ tend to their husband and bare child after child. There are still several towns in parts of America that strive on and abide by Mormon beliefs, such as many towns in Utah and the neighboring states. You may find yourself wondering how this is legal? The answer is that it is not. Although The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided to condemn this from their practice in 1890, certain Mormons were outraged and decided to break off into their own communities. These people were known as "fundamentalists". Each of these communities have a leader who dictates who will marry who. There is thought to be 30,000 to 60,000 polygamist families living in the Utah area and surrounding states. In my opinion, this is absolutely sickening. Not the fact that a man has many wives, but the fact that most of the women have no say in the matter. Most of the women in these towns are married between the ages of 15-18 to men, most of the time triple their age, whom they do not love nor even like. If a citizen of the United States would happen to fall in love with two people and wish to marry them both, more power to them. But, the issue is that the person wishing to marry 2 spouses would immediately be declined that right by the government. The reason that these Mormon towns can get away with it, is in fact that the "Marriages" are performed by the town's pastor. The marriages aren't always legally "real". Most people in these relationships, mainly the wives, are not aware that their marriage is any less real than that of a normal citizen because they are sheltered to believe anything that they are told. The problem is not that men are finding flaws in our system that allow them to have multiple wives. The problem is that the women, or in this case girls, are tricked into their marriages against their will and are made to believe that this is normal society.