During the Deviance Day activity, my experience was both eye-opening and emotional. The moment I dressed in clothing traditionally associated with another gender, I immediately felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity. Simply changing my appearance made me realize how powerful and symbolic clothing can be in defining how society expects us to behave. Walking through the public places and facing different reactions from the people gave me a real sense of what it feels like to be judged based on appearance alone. Some people looked surprised, some laughed quietly, while others smiled and showed support. These reactions, even if small, made me understand how individuals who express themselves differently often feel in everyday life.
By the end the activity, I felt proud that I stepped out of my comfort zone and experienced something that challenged both my perspective and the perspectives of those around me. It taught me that even simple actions can carry deep social meaning and that understanding comes from placing ourselves in others’ shoes-or in this case, in their clothing.
Deviance Day allowed me to step outside my usual comfort zone and experience what it feels like to challenge society’s expectations. By taking on the role of transvestism-wearing clothing traditionally associated with another gender-I was able to understand firsthand how something harmless can still be judged as deviant simply because it goes against what society considers “normal.”
During the activity, I realized that deviance is not based on the behavior itself, but on how people react to it. Wearing clothing of the opposite gender did not change who I am, yet some reactions from others-such as staring, whispering, or laughing-made me feel what many people experience every day in real life. This helped me better understand labeling theory, which explains how society places labels on people who do not conform, often without understanding their personal reasons or identities.
After participating in the Deviance Day activity, I gained a deeper understanding of how society creates and reinforces norms that influence now people are judged. One of the most important lessons I learned is that deviance is not always about doing something wrong-it is often about challenging what society has traditionally accepted. My experience in playing the role of transvestism showed me that something as simple as clothing can become a source of discrimination and misunderstanding, not because it harms anyone, but because it breaks long-standing cultural expectations. I also learned the importance of perspective-taking. Being in a position where others reacted to my appearance made me realize how people who express gender differently may feel every day. Even minor reactions-stares, whispers, or surprised looks-can affect a person’s confidence and sense of belonging. This helped me understand how labeling theory works in real life: once society labels someone as “different” or “deviant,” that label can influence how others treat them and how the individual views themselves. the activity taught me to be more respectful, accepting, and sensitive to forms of expression that differ from the norm. I realized that everyone deserves the freedom to express who they are without fear of judgment. This learning is not just academic-it is a lesson in humanity and understanding.
EARL JASPER GARCIA
BSW7- 2A 11-25-2025
Last November 21, during our Deviance Day, I was not only celebrating my birthday but was also assigned to portray a beggar. At first, I really did not know what to feel. I felt shy, nervous, and uncomfortable. Being out in public and acting as someone in such a vulnerable situation was not easy for me. Still, I reminded myself that this was a rare experience, something I might not get to do again, so I told myself to just try and give my best.
As time passed and I stayed longer in the field, I started to realize how heavy and difficult this kind of life really is. One moment that truly touched me was when I approached a mother and her child and asked if they had extra money so I could buy food. The mother handed me five pesos, but what stayed with me was the childโs reaction. The child said, โMa, hatagi siya og 20 pesos kay luoy siya.โ There was so much sincerity and innocence in that moment. It showed me how pure kindness can be, even in the simplest way. Some people thought I was a vlogger, so they gave money because of that. Others gave even without me asking, which made me see that there are still people who are naturally kind. But there were also those who told me that I looked capable of working and questioned why I was begging. Hearing that made me think a lot. It showed me how fast people judge without knowing the full story behind a person.
This experience gave me lessons that I could never just learn inside the four corners of the classroom. These are lessons that cannot be taught by books alone. I learned them by being out there, by interacting with people, and by seeing real-life situations with my own eyes. It made me realize that real learning also happens when we face reality and truly connect with others.
As a future social worker, this moment changed how I see people. I realized that I cannot judge those who have lived this kind of life because I myself felt how difficult it is. Instead of judging them, I should understand them. What they really need is empathy and support. This experience reminded me that social work is not just about papers and theories. It is about connecting with people and treating them with respect and care.
This day did not just teach me lessons. It changed the way I see life and the people around me. Seeing and experiencing this made me want to be more understanding and caring toward other people. I will never forget this experience because it made me want to be the kind of person who truly helps and listens. After all, it is indeed the best birthday ever.
ARVIN A. MARTIZANO
BSW7 2A 11-27-25
In my experience as a beggar during Deviance Day, I would say that it was great because I’ve encountered a lot of people who have a different perspective on a person who begs for money and food. I encountered people who are truly genuine when giving money or food, Like what I experienced during the experiment, there were two vendor women, and I begged them to give me money, but then they said that they didn’t have enough money, so instead of money that I must receive from them. I received fruit and a drink from them. And that’s truly a person who has a beautiful and kind heart for me even though we are in different situations. Some people also think that it is easy for a beggar to beg for food and money for them when the truth is it is not easy because some of them may see you as a person who is useless and lazy because of your situation, like you can’t work, have no place to stay, have no education, and can’t eat property in a day. They gave you money but with judgment in their eyes. Even though I’m pretending to be a beggar, I feel hurt thinking of real beggars and how they handle the discrimination, insults, and disrespect they receive from other people, especially those who are vulnerable like children, persons with disabilities, and elders.
Somehow, I also can’t blame those people because they also work hard to gain money to survive and provide for themselves and for their family, but even so, we shouldn’t judge or insult each other because we are all equal and we are all working hard to have something to eat. This activity taught me to be more grateful, more understanding, and more compassionate toward people who are in difficult situations. I realized that many people are struggling in ways we do not always notice. Some people face hard situations every day, even if they do not show it. Because of this, I learned that even small acts of kindness like a smile, a kind word, or a little help can make a big difference to someone who feels alone or has nothing. I also understood that we should never judge others based on their appearance or their situation. We do not know their story, their pain, or what they are trying to overcome. Instead of judging, we should try to be patient respectful, and caring toward everyone. This experience opened my eyes and taught me to appreciate the things I have, no matter how small. It reminded me to be more grateful and to treat every person with kindness and understanding. It made me see the world in a more compassionate way.
MA. KLARISS TOMARCE
BSW7- 2B 11-27-25
