deviance an crime

Crime! Crime is a familiar and commonly used word. Many have probably heard or used the word, but how many have heard or know about the word deviance? The two words, deviance and crime, are closely related as they both deal with breaking laws and norms. Many may have their personal definition and interpretation of the word crime. However, according to the Mirriam Webster online dictionary, crime is defined as “ an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law.” Basically crime is the breaking of a law and being held responsible. But what happens to those actions that are still wrong? Like bullying or having an affair. Those actions are known as deviant acts. Deviance is defined as “the violation or breaking of social norms of a society or culture.” Deviance may be classified as a “lesser” or “lower” violation of a wrongful act. Examples of deviance and crime can be seen in the movie “An American Crime”, based on an actual story that took place in the mid 1960’s in the southern state of Georgia. An American Crime is a sad and heart touching movie where a young 15 year old, Sylvia Likens is brutally abused by her wicked, evil, heartless and jealous caretaker Gertrude. During the movie, we see many examples of both deviance and crime. Gertrude engages in many deviant behaviors such as illegitimacy when she has a child out of wedock with a young boy that is multiple years younger than her. She is also a big hypocrite as she puts a ‘front’ as being a hardworking, dedicated mother and Christian. Gertrude goes to church every Sunday but yet she doesn’t follow God’s word. There is a scene in the movie where Gertrude and the family just came home from church and Gertrude allowed Paula, her oldest daughter, to physically beat Sylvia. This clearly shows hypocracy as they had just come home from hearing the word of God and they engage in such