1. I can not answer this accurately, not because I did not commit a primary deviant act, but because I was never caught. I have read the E&Z chapter twice while trying to put myself into a primary deviant act that would fit this assignment. I can honestly say I relate to page 177 (Becker, 1963:14) [I] was normal and did these things with guys who now are preachers, professors, and businessmen. (It goes on) [W]e all believed they were too dumb not to know when to have fun and when to run. I relate to this because I was never caught. I was never labeled as deviant nor have I been suffering with a self identity crisis or been treated differently by family, friends co-workers etc. because of a deviant act.

OK now the time for confession. As an adult, a mother, I'd been through one marriage already and had two children. I was on a first date with my current husband and after playing some pool and a few beers, (him not me), we broke into the Eugene Country club and went swimming. It was a late summer night and we had no trouble getting in. The pool was warm and quiet. No one but us was enjoying the splendid excitement of being BAD! We had fun and were never caught even though we spent over an hour there.

As a parent I felt great because I was committing an act that was satisfying my urge and would never tell my children. I would also punish my children for committing such an act. I remember telling my husband that if I got caught I could not face my kids.

2. The effects of this label were none that was brought to me from the outside. It was internal labeling. I labeled myself but am actually content with it. I had fun, got away with it and what the hell...

3. The effects of secondary deviance again are only brought on by my own internal condemnation. I broke the law, I trespassed, I could have been charged with breaking and entering if I would have been caught. I could have been charged with more if I would have been caught while engaging in a more enamorous situation (one I will not elaborate on at this time). But I was not. Society would probably labeled me as an outcast, whore, bad mother...who knows. The mother of two children breaking the law, it would have made my mother go ballistic.

I will sum it up as this is the last time 17 years ago I broke the law and committed a deviant act. My entire life I have been labeled defiant, but not deviant. But then that is an entirely different subject :)