I noticed the other day that there is a lot going around in various subcultures – primarily hipsters, punk rockers and teenagers – that seems to make point of defying the social norms (norm coming from the ancient English word “normal”). Social norms are effectively the “rules and regulations” of living in a society, set out by the social structures of a given culture (i.e. church, family, tradition, media, etc.). This “movement” has done wonders for sociologists, psychologists, and various blogs (such as ours) by providing an excellent point of conversation – also known as controversy to the rest of us. Conversation on this topic primarily revolves around the subject of clothing and hype over the meta-phrase: “being unique like everyone else,” or “everyone is nonconforming in the same way! Conforming to nonconforming! Conform-ception!”
If you really want to delve into that area of non-conformity, however, you will have to go to somewhere else – because that is about as much as I am going to touch on conform-ception. Read this other post if you want to go that direction. Otherwise, moving on!
The thing that I am interested in today is how I believe we are typecasting what being non-conformist (or deviant) actually is in today’s culture. The way I see it, wearing different clothing to everyone else is no longer a deviance from social norms. Everyone thinks they’re doing it, everyone expects it, it’s become a part of life, move on. It’s not like there is anything else to buy in stores anymore… People have lost sight of what a social norm really is.
The whole point of having a social norm is to have a template for behaviour that helps to make life a little more predictable. It is thanks to these norms that you aren’t walking through town every day scared for your life that some half naked random is going to pop out from behind a corner and yell, “Zombie Zeus from the eighth dimension is coming for your soul!” Social norms dictate that when you are out in public you keep your clothes on and for the last time, please leave the poor bystander alone!
Continuing with the template metaphor, an act of defiance is only deviant if it goes against the template of behaviour of the audience viewing the deviant action. As I said earlier, everyone expects the occasional random individual to be wearing strange clothing. Now that it has become a template, it is no longer a defiance of the norms! If you really want to do something against the norms, try doing something new, like planking used to be (and in my opinion, planking is quickly losing it’s flair as well). Defying social norms needs to give people an experience of shock, not make them roll their eyes.
The point that I am trying to make is that I am not sure people quite understand the weight social norms actually carry in their lives. Social norms are there to protect you, keep you safe, allow you to dress like a gangster, etc. Don’t bag out social norms unless you truly intend on sticking to your guns and going all out with it. It’s almost like accepting presents from Santa then turning around and calling him that fat pervert that sneaks into people’s houses, how dare you… Try to find a happy medium between conformity and deviance, but please understand that truly defying social norms has almost nothing to do with clothes anymore. In today’s society, straying from social norms is all about psychological warfare with your own culture.
I’m not calling you a coward if all you do is wear “alternative” clothing and call that defiance (actually I am), but if you are truly dedicated to pushing the boundaries of society, not only will you wear the Hawaiian shirt under a blazer, throw on a pair of track pants and get your self some flip flops, but you will also be ready to walk up to that poor bystander on the street and introduce yourself as the duke of wherever your house is and, by the way, don’t forget: “Zombie Zeus is watching!”
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Read more by Jacob
