The Human Stain

 

The Murder of Trayvon Martin

 

The Trayvor Martin Case. 

1. How did race and racial stereotypes influence the events 

surrounding Trayvon Martin's death?

2. What does this case reveal about systemic racial inequality 

in policing and criminal justice?

3. Compare public reactions to Trayvon Martin's case to similar 

incidents involving individuals of other races.

4. Discuss how societal norms and values may have framed 

Trayvon Martin as "deviant" in Zimmerman's eyes.

…………………………………………………………..

5. How does Trayvon Martin's case illustrate the concept of 

labeling?

6. What role did cultural symbols (hoodies, race, language) 

play in the interactions leading up to Trayvon Martin's death?

…………………………………………………..

7. How do societal fears about crime influence the actions of 

individuals like George Zimmerman?

8. What role do neighborhood watch programs play in maintaining 

community safety? Are they always beneficial?

Hate Crimes - Debate

Hate Crimes: 

1. How do bias, prejudice, and discrimination contribute to 

hate crimes?

2. What are the psychological and emotional effects of hate 

crimes on victims and their communities?

3. What role can communities play in preventing and responding 

to hate crimes?

4. How has globalization impacted the spread of hate ideologies 

and hate crimes?

5. How does online hate speech contribute to offline hate crimes?

6. How does political polarization contribute to the rise of hate 

crimes?

Deviance: Different Approaches

 

Debate. 

1. According to structural-functionalism, how does deviance 

serve a purpose or function in society?

2. How can deviance act as a driving force for social change 

from a structural-functionalist perspective?

3. In what ways does deviance reinforce social norms and 

promote social order, according to structural-functionalists?

4. How does Robert Merton’s Strain Theory explain deviance 

through a structural-functional lens?

5. How does labeling theory, a key component of symbolic 

interactionism, explain deviance? What are the social 

consequences of being labeled as "deviant"?

6. What is the difference between primary and secondary 

deviance in the context of symbolic interactionism?

7. Can acts of deviance lead to social change from the 

symbolic interactionist perspective? If so, how?

8. How does power influence the definition and enforcement 

of deviant behavior?

9. How do dominant groups use the concept of deviance to 

maintain social control?

10. Why is corporate crime often treated differently than 

street crime?