Inappropriateness refers to standards or ethics that are typically viewed as being negative in a society.[Encyclopedia of Special Education, Elaine Fletcher-Janzen - 2007, p 143] It differs from things that are illicit in that inappropriate behavior does not necessarily have any accompanying legal ramifications.[Handbook of Social Psychology - Page 564, Amanda Ward - 2013]
Compendium
Synonyms of inappropriate include
improper,
unfitting,
unsuitable [Burtons Legal Thesaurus 5th Edition: Over 10,000 Synonyms, Terms, and Expressions Specifically Related to the Legal Profession, page 871, William Burton - 2013] and . Although social ills are usually outlawed in wider society, there are many examples wherein various jurisdictions give their inhabitants full discretion over certain aspects of their lives so they can police themselves without any
intrusiveness.
[Policing Citizens: Authority and Rights - Page 31, P. A. J. Waddington - 1999] For instance, although it's legal to
flatulate in a crowded elevator, there are strong social pressures not to do so.
Other socially contentious behavior, such as smoking while pregnant, may procure a statement from a public health organization rather than from a law enforcement organization.
The term has also been used to negatively refer to the usage of recreational drugs.
[Language and behavior - Page 169, Charles G. Russell - 1993] Increasingly, the term is used in the context of sexual misconduct, especially touching of erogenous zones such as the genitalia or sending photos of said private parts.
[Alagiakrishnan, Kannayiram, et al. "Sexually inappropriate behaviour in demented elderly people." Postgraduate medical journal 81.957 (2005): 463-466.]
Regulation
In the
United States, the Supreme Court has ruled in
FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (1978) that the Federal Communications Commission has the power to punish constitutionally protected but "indecent" expression on radio and broadcast television.
The FCC released guidelines on indecency in 2001.
The radio and television broadcast of indecent material is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
History - San Francisco
Indecency and good morals laws became more common in 19th century San Francisco as the population of women increased. Very frequently, immigrant women were targeted for being indecent regardless of whether they were a
sex worker or not. European men criticized Chinese, Mexican, and South American women for being improper, immodest, and impure, articulating a stark boundary between
Racialization and gendered legality.
[Sears, Clare. “Against Good Morals.” In Arresting Dress: Cross-Dressing, Law, and Fascination in Nineteenth-Century San Francisco. pg. 41-60. Duke University Press, 2015. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1220nx9. ]
See also
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Indecent exposure
-
Immorality
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Outraging public decency
