Breaching Experiment: Wearing Sleepwear in Public

Breaching Experiment by Corpuz, Ignacio, Martinez, Naadat, and Raymundo (SA21-K)

1. What norm did you violate?

The “folkways,” a norm for “routines and casual interaction.” For our breaching experiment, we violated the idea that one has to wear certain clothes in public, and that the clothes that one wears at home or to sleep are unacceptable in the public domain. (In other words, we violated the idea that one cannot wear pambahay in malls).

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

• The group went to two areas (SM Aura and Market! Market!) while wearing pajamas and bedroom slippers.
• We arrived in SM Aura at 12 noon. We did all the typical activities that friends do when they hang out.We went to Forever 21 to look at clothes and then we ate in the food court. We also took pictures and selfies in the garden area.
• After lunch, we walked to Market! Market! in our attire. We roamed around the area and looked at some shops.
• When we were finally satisfied with the results, we went home.

3. What were the different reactions of the people? List all possible reactions you observed.

• The guard at the entrance of SM Aura treated us like any regular customer, but the people on the escalators were already giving us weird glances.
• Most adults in SM Aura would look at us or even do a double take, but would eventually look away after one or two seconds.
• Children in SM Aura would smile or even laugh at our pajamas.
• The guards in Forever 21 followed us around the store. Their walkie talkies were active the entire time.
• The female guards around the mall looked at us and smiled, there was even one who talked to one of the cashiers in the food court and said “Cute noh?”
• There were three Caucasian females who stared at us as we walked passed them. Even after we moved on to the second floor, they were still staring at us.
• While eating, there were a group of elderlies who were dining across our table in the food court. One of them noticed our attire, and the entire group looked towards our direction at the same time.
• We walked around the Sky Garden of SM Aura and a group of old ladies saw us and asked us to take their picture for them. They were so entertained with our outfits that one of them even asked us where we’re from. When she found out that we were from Ateneo, she told us that she was an English teacher. Her name was Ma’am Fernandez. She then asked us why we were wearing our pajamas. When she found out it was for a Breaching experiment, she laughed and decided to take our picture using her iPad and promised us that she would email it to us.
• While Micah was ordering her food at Pepper Lunch, the cashier thought that she was with the couple behind her.
• When we were walking around the Sky Garden, almost everyone literally stopped and stared at us as we passed by, and everyone was quiet.
• Many people looked, pointed, and laughed at us on our walk to Market! Market!
• One girl even shamelessly gave us a once over right beside us and remarked “What the f*ck.”
• An Oriental family (was not able to observe from which Asian country they were from) slowed down and stared at us as we crossed paths.
• As we neared Market! Market!, a teenage boy took his phone out and tried to take a discreet selfie of him with us in the background. But it was not discreet because we noticed.
• The adults in Market! Market! really stared at us from the moment we caught their eye until we were out of sight.
• The children were also noticeably more vocal with their reactions. They would really stop, point, and ask other people to look at us, too.
• On the way back, an old Japanese man said “I like your shoes” with a smiling face
• Some people looked at us from head to toe and it seemed like they were bothered by what we are wearing.

Why did these people react in the ways that they did? 

These reactions were caused by the clear lines there are that separate types of clothing and the occasions one is allowed to wear them-- the way it is inappropriate to wear a long formal gown to a cocktail party or the way it is okay to be scantily clad in a bikini in a beach, but not okay to strut in them in public parks. The idea that we wore clothes meant for the bedroom to commercial areas baffled the people around us. The idea that we were lazy to dress up or that we had poor fashion sense is also tied to our attire. One of our groupmates even suggested that the people might have thought that we were mentally ill for wearing such clothes in malls (especially since we had those fluffy bedroom slippers and stuffed toys with us).

What caused these reactions?

We feel that these reactions were caused by the fact that we were wearing clothes that were out of the ordinary for one to wear to the mall. And it wasn’t even something subtle like just holding a stuffed toy or wearing the slippers. It was the entire outfit, the bedroom slippers, the pajama pants, the baggy shirts, our hair was even tied and up and braided which completed the entire look.

Did the deviant act re-affirm/reinforce the existing norms based on these reactions?

Yes it did, because the negative reactions around us would ingrain the thought that these kinds of clothing, when worn in malls, would elicit judgment from the public. The passersby who were neutral about our outfits would see that if they did the same, they would be stared at, pointed at, and laughed at. Therefore, those in the scene would think that in order to avoid this kind of treatment from strangers, they must not violate the norm of wearing casual clothes instead of pajamas in malls.

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 and poor), values/beliefs of institutions (religion, family, peer group, etc.) [You could compare reactions according to gender, social class, etc. That would be more interesting - and might obtain a better grade!]

A. Social Class

1. Upper Class/ Middle Class (SM Aura)

• The people were more discreet when they look at us. When we saw them staring, they immediately looked away. They also tried to avoid eye contact. It gave us the impression that although our outfits were unfit for the place, the people did not want to draw any unwanted attention to us. However, it is hard to tell whether they looked at us because of our outfits or because we were in their way, and it was inevitable they would see us. And just because they saw us, it does not mean that they looked at us. In summary, the crowd of SM Aura (with the exception of a few) generally did not pay us any attention.

2. Lower Middle Class/ Lower Class (Market! Market!)

• People in Market! Market! were more expressive about their opinions on our choice of attire. They stared at us and gave us “once overs” when we walked past them. They would also make eye contact and had a judgmental look on their face when they saw us. Some people were even pointing and laughing.

B. Gender

1. Females

• The females were more verbal and blatant than the males. Their gaze followed us while we were walking, and they even urged their friends to look at us. 

 

b. Males

• Males did not pay much attention to what we were wearing. But when they did, they looked at us from head to toe.

C. Age

a. Babies and Children

• This age group were amused and entertained with our outfits. They were also cute about their judgment when they saw us. They would point at our stuffed toys and slippers and would smile/laugh at what we were wearing. 

b.  Teenagers

• They kept quiet, but they would still look at us.
• Some would tell their friends about what we’re wearing and they’ll talk about us behind our backs (after we pass by them).

 

c.   Adults

• Same as the teenagers. However, the parents would either point at us so that their kids would notice our group or would be forced by their kids to look at us.

d.   Senior Citizens

• They were more judgmental about how we looked. They would stare at us longer than the appropriate time. Some would even have an expression of disgust. There was even a group of elderly females who approached us and pried into the reason for our outfits.  

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?

When we did this experiment, we felt judged, especially by the people who were giving us once-overs. But, we also felt comfortable because we were wearing clothes for sleeping and shoes that are meant to be used inside the bedroom. Most of us agreed that we would wear sleeping clothes and bedroom shoes in public if people wouldn’t judge us. Moreover, deviating from the norms felt enthralling because we never thought that we would do such a thing. We were excited, but at the same time a little scared, because we didn’t know how people would react. When we got dressed and we were about to enter SM Aura, we were a bit hesitant to do the activity because we didn’t know if the guard would let us enter or not. Once we were able to enter, we started feeling comfortable because no one was really giving us the attention that we expected we would get (most of the people were just subtly looking, somewhat laughing, and pointing). However, when we went to Market! Market!, that’s where we felt extreme judgment because the looks that people were giving us were exceptionally harsh. But after a while, we got used to the reactions of people so we were still able to finish the breaching experiment.

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

Deviance is defined as a “recognized violation of a norm.” Generally, people from different social classes have varied reactions to the breaching experiment. However, none of them openly asked us as to why were dressed in such a way (except for the lola who asked us to take a picture of her and her friends). Security personnel also followed us around perhaps because, we didn’t look like “normal shoppers.” Despite violating a certain norm, none of the observers confronted us because people almost always avoid conflict. Thus, deviance, based on our breaching experiment, generates certain reactions from people, but not to the point that they will initiate an argument or create a scene in public.

#SelfieEveryday

Cortez | Hsieh | Nalupta | Peren | Soliman

SA 21 - P

In this experiment, we decided to break the social norm of respecting a person’s personal space. Personal space is defined as the region or area around the person that he or she feels is psychologically theirs. It is an invisible barrier that separates a person from other members of society which is to say that there is an avoidance of social interaction in that particular area. An abrupt breach of this space may be cause of a person’s anxiety, discomfort, anger, etc., depending on the person. With the differentiation of reactions in mind, we wanted to see the kinds of reactions that will come about from people.

To do this, we took “selfies” with different people in certain parts of the campus. A selfie is the act of taking one’s picture with the use of one’s cellphone by his or her self. It is usually done alone but for the purposes of the experiment, we did it in groups and in pairs as no breaching would come about if our subject was to do a selfie voluntarily and by themselves. The selfie would be our way to invade the individual’s personal space and from there capture their reaction not only by first hand observation but in a picture as well. Our subjects would comprise of students, faculty members, and maintenance staff for a wider possibility of reaction. The experiment was done in different parts of the school like the library, the library elevator, the cafeteria, and the walkways.

For the experiment, one reaction that is common among all of the people we did the experiment on is the initial shock. Each one showed this differently with different expressions, may it be “whoa”, “uy”, “what the” and so on, and various facial expressions, but all of them point toward manifestations of shock or surprise. This can primarily be attributed to the breaching of the norm of personal space, where one does not expect any form of contact especially in that way which was very abrupt, unexpected, and done without warning. Moreover, the way with which the personal space was violated also comes into play. A selfie is something one normally does with friends and is commonly announced with a request, may it be just a simple, “Picture tayo!” Therefore, for a person to declare a selfie with you out of nowhere, especially if the person is a complete stranger, would indeed probably cause the person to experience a state of shock.

Another interesting part of their reactions was how they responded after that initial sense of surprise where they were caught off guard. For our experiment, the people we did the experiment on can be divided according to their roles in the school, namely students, maintenance and staff, and people with authority; with each one having a unique follow up reaction.

         The most obvious choice for this breaching experiment is the students. The student population is the most in terms of number in campus, which is why they can be easily found anywhere. We decided to conduct the experiment in two areas – the 5th floor of the new Rizal library and along the corridor of Sec A.

          In the library, we approached two students who were seated in front of each other. We approached them from behind while they were talking and took the picture. At first they were both shocked but they reacted differently after realizing what was happening. The guy immediately bowed his head while the girl giggled and smiled at the camera.  After the picture was taken, the guy explained to us that he thought we were friends with the girl which is why he immediately shied away from the camera when we said “Selfie!”.

         The girl we met along the corridor of Sec A was equally as shocked when we took the picture. Upon hearing us say “Selfie!” and seeing the camera, the girl said “Ay! Nagulat naman ako!”. She initially stepped away from the camera but she somehow returned back, showing her willingness to be a part of the picture.

       Knowing that the people who were asking them to be a part of the selfies were also students, the participants were not as hesitant to join. There is an equal footing in role, so there is no division as to who is of higher position than the other. Although there is a common initial shock upon seeing the camera, the students were not so surprised with the request for the selfie. It is not uncommon in our generation to take selfies and this explains the students’ reactions. However, despite the selfies being a common occurrence nowadays, there is a norm that these selfies are taken only with people you are close with or people you at least know. This justifies the reaction of the guy in the library who immediately ducked upon realizing that it was a selfie. He assumed that we knew the girl he was with, which is why we wanted to take the selfie with her.

         Our second group of people can be classified under the role of maintenance and staff, men and women who more commonly work unnoticed in the campus, going by their duties with minimal to no contact with the students. More specifically, we were able to perform the experiment with a landscape maintenance man and a group of cafeteria personnel, both of which interestingly reacted quite similarly. First, they’d look up to see what was going. Then, upon realizing that we were trying to take a picture with them, both started laughing but at the same time looked away from the camera again and to an extent, tried to get out of the shot; a reaction quite unique from the other groups.

This can possibly be a reaction brought about by the norm set by their everyday duties and settings in the school. For the maintenance man, it can be said that interaction with students is not a common part of his everyday experience in his job, if at all. Despite being surrounded by students in Zen Garden, his focus was just on his work and the nearby students had no part in his own little world. As for the cafeteria personnel, if ever they do have any interaction with students, it must be quite minimal; just a transaction or a few words needed to accomplish their duties. Additionally,  they were having their lunch break at the time of the experiment meaning all the more they definitely weren’t expecting any interaction with students.

Their reaction to the sudden request for a selfie is quite indicative of this norm set on them. The fact that it was to be done with students possibly led them to being evasive as it’s not something they’re used to. I’m sure that if it were done with their peers, their reaction would have been very different and much more accommodating. But since there is a divide in roles between the maintenance and students, interaction between the two without prior warning is not easy to achieve. Given this, it can be said that their reaction reinforces the existing norms of personal space, and avoiding contact with members of the society that you have no business with. 

The last victim of the breaching experiment was a woman who is in her late 50s to early 60s, around 5’1” in height and wearing casual clothing (striped sleeveless shirt and khaki pants). While the victim was reading a newsletter and leaning against the bulletin boards near the cashier of the Ateneo, two of the group members approached her suddenly to take a selfie with her while saying, “Selfie!” In a puzzled and shocked voice, the woman asked, “Hey, what is this for?” A group member answered back and debriefed the victim that the group was conducting a breaching experiment for their sociology and anthropology class. Upon knowing this, the woman changed her tone of voice and sneeringly said, “Do you know who I am?” A group member answered back and said, “No.” The woman just walked away and mockingly repeated what the group member said which is, “No.”

This woman showed the most distinct reaction among all the victims of the breaching experiment. Instead of just smiling/laughing like most of the victims, this woman gave a negative reaction by condescendingly asking the group “Do you know who I am?” Due to the nature of this experiment, which is breaking norms, probably the woman became offended and considered it rude to take a picture with her without asking permission. Her negative reaction can also be attributed to the group disturbing her as she was reading something in the bulletin boards.

Her statement “Do you know who I am?” suggests the impression of how highly she thinks of herself, which is also a possibility of why she reacted this way. The group assumes that she has a high position in Ateneo that is why she was able to say this. She might have expected that no one will do this breaching experiment to her and when the group did, this caused her to react negatively. Hence, one can see that aside from norms, social positions can also affect how a person acts.

This woman is also the oldest of all the victims in the experiment and her age bracket can also be a factor in how she reacted. For the older generations, taking a selfie is not a normal conduct to do as compared to the younger generations today. Therefore, this possible expectation was violated in the experiment and may have cause the woman to react disapprovingly.

The woman’s negative reaction reinforces the norm of personal space as she found it disrespectful to take a selfie with her. Through breaching the norm of personal space or privacy by suddenly taking a picture with a person, indeed, certain norms are reaffirmed and are at play in our society.

Prior to conducting the experiments, we were excited but at the same time very hesitant and shy to start because we are not used to taking photos with random people in a public place but we wanted to find out how people would react to this deviance. It was not a comfortable thing to do since we were all shy in nature. We usually take selfies with our friends, blockmates, org mates, family members--- the people we’re close to, but not with random people we see in school. Also, the possibility of seeing these people again, probably be judged and react in a negative way, pushed us to be more hesitant in conducting the experiment. Before approaching the people, we would look at one another to see if someone would go ahead and approach the person or group of people. We made sure first that we had a plan of action before doing our selfie attacks on people. Such as who was staying at this side, who’s going to take the picture, etc. In this way, more or less we were able to take selfies with random people despite our hesitance and shyness.

The reactions of people are unpredictable. You may think that one would react in a certain way, but he or she can actually react in a totally different way than what you expected. It should be kept in mind that the reactions will most likely depend on the knowledge and understanding of your “victims.” In our experiment, the reactions of the students were always game and willing to take selfies with us because they more or less knew about taking selfies. The maintenance were shy but were still game and willing to take selfies. After a streak of consistent positive reactions, it was broken by the last victim which is an elderly woman who probably had no idea at all of what a selfie is.

Basing from this, in the younger generation and the lower class which is the maintenance, a deviance from the norm of having personal space is somewhat acceptable up to a certain extent. In the older generations where technology was not widely used for such behavior, the disruption of personal space is unacceptable and considered highly disrespectful. As a group, we learned that it is important to always be prepared with the various reactions from the different people. Some reactions may be favorable, while some may not be, but keep in mind that everything is for learning purposes and will contribute to the greater knowledge of Society.