Hans Braga

Bianca Isaac

Keisha Lao

Gianna Llanes

Julianne Suazo           

SA 21 - K

Deviance Day Report

1. What norm did you violate?

            The norm that our group decided to violate was entering the correct gender bathrooms pertaining to your sex.

                This norm is so severe that it is illegal to breach it in some places. In Florida, Rep. Frank Artiles introduced a bill that criminalizes people who use the opposite bathroom, resulting in #1000 fine or up to one year in jail. It has also stirred debate in Arizona, Utah, Minnesota, and Kentucky, claiming that the safety of the “right sex” is violated when someone from the opposite sex enters the wrong bathroom (Kellaway, Reason.com.)

                  In one particular instance in Louisiana, Sen. C.B. Embry Jr. introduced something entitled, “The Kentucky Student Privacy Act,” forcing students to immediately report when a student enters the incorrect bathroom, even offering a reward up to $2500. The lawmaker believes that allowing opposite genders inside the bathroom “will create a significant potential for disruption of school activities and unsafe conditions” and “will create potential embarrassment, shame, and psychological injury to students” (qtd. in Ford, Think Progress.)

2. Describe the breaching experiment in detail. What was the activity? Where did you do it?

             The plan of the breaching experiment was to have the next user of the single-person bathroom enter and react to see someone of the opposite sex already using the facilities. In order to do this, the experimenter had to subtly enter the bathroom with nobody looking in order to not look conspicuous. This was also to avoid the people surrounding the area to let the next user know that somebody was already inside. The original plan was to do the experiment in Regis, using a multi-person bathroom. However, we found out that we needed a permit to do it there. Therefore, we decided to do it at Solana dormitory and McDonald’s Katipunan. The one at the dorm was a single-person bathroom, while McDonald’s bathrooms entertained more than one person.

3. What were the different reactions of people? List all possible reactions you observed. Why do you think they reacted this way? What caused these reactions? Did the deviant act re-affirm/reinforce the existing norms based on these reactions?

                The people who experienced our experiment were surprised, stunned, weirded out, violated and confused.

                They reacted this way because this is not something we would usually encounter on a daily basis. It is already a known fact that girls are supposed to use the girl's bathroom and that the men are supposed to use the men's bathroom. Whenever something unusual would happen, reactions such as being confused and surprised are inevitable.Norms are shared expectations about what kinds of behavior are and are not acceptable. By breaking these norms, people will tend to feel uncomfortable because it is a breakout from what they think is "usual" or "normal." Normative behavior is what is "required" to maintain the cohesion of the society, which is why going against it will definitely create a certain effect or strong feeling against or for it.

                The deviant act did reaffirm the existing norms through the reactions that we got from the people who experienced it. Genderless bathrooms would work in the society but since existing norms say otherwise, it doesn't. This can create a space that is safe for everyone. In 2015, West Hollywood became the first city in California to require gender neutral bathrooms. Although this may be more rampant in other countries such as the United States, the conservative nature of the Filipinos will hinder them from accepting this. The fact that the people who experienced this gave negative reactions proves how this is not acceptable in the country.  

4. Aside from the norms, what sociological themes are at play for people to react in a certain way? Is it a function of gender (gender norms, roles), social class (norms of the rich & the poor), values/ beliefs of the institutions (religions, family, peer group, etc.).

                Other than the norms of going to the respective bathrooms, which highly includes gender, there is an incorporation of social class as well, along with values and beliefs.

                In terms of gender, there is an implied level of respect by going to your respective bathroom. A large controversy with the topic pertains safety when it comes to sexual harassment and assault. When entering the wrong bathroom, especially in dark locations, it is easy for that to take place. Numerous students from Harvard investigated on that, finding that safety in gender-oriented bathrooms promotes dignity and safety (Chan, The Crimson.)

                Another component that determined reactions depended on the type of bathroom. Using a multi-person opposite gender bathroom can get varying reactions. Women usually get stares and unwanted attention, but men have it more severe, possibly immediately getting arrested. In a single-person opposite gender bathroom, the cases are different. Sometimes, women go to the men’s bathroom when there is a line for the women’s bathroom. There is no harm done considering that it is only for one person. However, it does get awkward with time spent there, or with what is done there. A quick number one will have the person in and out of the bathroom, the others not thinking about what was done there. However, a number two can have the opposite gender feel violated when it comes to their space (The International Center for Bathroom Etiquette.)

                Social class is incorporated into the experiment after seeing the reactions. Those from a lower social class immediately apologize after seeing someone from a higher class already in the incorrect bathroom, disregarding age. However, those from the same social class as the experimenter would respond with calmness, humor, and at times, even anger, which they did not fear to express. Their reactions were a bit slower, because of their higher level of confidence and assurance that they know what they’re doing. They also felt more a sense of entitlement to be able to use the bathroom, despite the opposite gender already there.

                The biggest debate with gender-affiliated bathrooms is associated with transgenders. Although the experiment clearly showed which gender the experimenter associates themselves with, the initial thought of the reactor does pertain to sexuality. One article by the human rights campaign explains the legalities associated with transgender employees and the restrooms they use, later saying that “Employees may use the restrooms that correspond with their full-time gender presentation,” further elaborating that other employees uncomfortable with this should be the ones to find another restroom (qtd. in Human Rights Campaign.) Another story features a transgender girl in Maine winning a $75,000 lawsuit settlement after forcing her to use the staff bathroom instead of the girls’ bathroom, showing that it is a very controversial yet common issue associated with our experiment (RT.)

5. How did you feel when you did this experiment? How does it feel to deviate from the norms? Were you hesitant to do the activity?

                Before completing the experiment, there was a feeling of both anxiousness and excitement. Truthfully, everybody has experienced the instance in which they accidentally entered the wrong bathroom, so doing it on purpose has turned into a thought that is hard to fathom. Therefore, when it came time to actually deviate for the norms, what was most humorous was that the reactors thought that it was being done accidentally immediately. It felt empowering to be able to deviate from the norms on purpose, but it was followed by embarrassment as well when people were so frazzled by the situation that when they saw the experimenter afterward, their weird stares continued.

                There was no hesitation before the experiment because we hyped ourselves up to think that it was solely for the grade, and for personal humour on the side. However, there was hesitation to do it alone, considering that the embarrassment, or the stereotype, was not wanted after the experiment. Doing it with a friend strayed away from the seriousness of the situation.

6. Other observations and analysis that you may have on the activity and on deviance in general.

                We are constantly being governed by the norms that are present in the society today. They are basically unwritten rules. They may not be physically there but we all know that they exist. There is already an expected behavior from the people around us that we constantly try not to break. We unknowingly conform to what society deems to be acceptable. This is probably why while we were thinking of things to do for this experiment, we took the embarrassment factor into consideration. Because we know that we will be judged for what we will be doing, we had to be cautious and at the same time make sure that it wont just be safe. Defying the norms is not a very easy thing to do because we know that it is not going to be acceptable for the people around us. As a society, people like controlled environments. This is why we usually stick to what we are used to. We feel more comfortable when we know what to expect which is why it is difficult for people to accept something far from what is usual.

References:

Brown, Elizabeth N. "Florida Bill Would Make Using Opposite-Sex Bathroom a Crime." Web log post. Hit & Run. Reason Foundation, 6 Feb. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.

Chan, Marco. "Safe Bathrooms for All." The Crimson [Cambridge] 17 Feb. 2011: n. pag. Print.

Ford, Zack. "Lawmaker Wants To Pay Students $2,500 If They See A Transgender Person In The ‘Wrong’ Bathroom." Think Progress 15 Jan. 2015: n. pag. Print.

Kellaway, Mitch. "Florida Lawmaker: Fine or Jail Trans People for Using the 'Wrong' Bathroom." Advocate.com 16 Feb. 2015: n. pag. Print.

"Restroom Access for Transgender Employees." Human Rights Campaign. THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.

"Transgender Student Wins $75k in School Bathroom Discrimination Suit." RT Question More. TV-Novosti, 3 Dec. 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.