Gender, Sexuality, and the Politics of Deviance In Contemporary Societies

The regulation of gender and sexuality remains central to the politics of deviance and social control across societies. Normative frameworks surrounding morality, identity, family structures, and bodily autonomy continue to shape the ways in which individuals and communities are labelled, disciplined, and marginalized. In many contexts, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and gender non-conforming communities experience heightened surveillance, stigmatization, violence, and exclusion through legal, religious, cultural, and institutional mechanisms. This session seeks to critically examine the intersections between gender, sexuality, power, and deviance in contemporary societies. It invites contributions exploring issues such as gender-based violence, criminalization of sexual identities, moral policing, reproductive rights, digital harassment, intersectional discrimination, and resistance movements challenging dominant social norms. The session also encourages comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives on how changing political, cultural, and technological landscapes influence the governance of gender and sexuality. By foregrounding questions of identity, rights, and social justice, this session aims to contribute to broader sociological debates on inclusion, equality, and the contested boundaries of deviance in turbulent times.