What does the coronavirus pandemic reveal about power and/or structure and agency, and the enduring nature of social inequality?The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is widely considered to be one of the most debilitating occurrences, from an economical and health and welfare standpoint. As the infection spread rapidly over a two year period, the consequent effects were devastating and thereby obliterated the economy and the general populace. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the vulnerability and susceptibilityof society and how they are influenced by structure, agency and social inequality. Through the COVID-19 pandemi

 . Merton’s strain theory was firmed after this very phenomenon. Strain theory informed that societal pressure to assimilate to certain norms without being provided the means in which to do so created a tension and unrest in a person or a people. This tension and unrest resulted in Anomie, which is another word for deviance. One can see this is how history played out for the Indigenous people in Australia, they were expected after British settlement to conform and assimilate to white Australian culture and the societal norms of the Anglo British, but were not provided the means, dignity or social standing to conform to expectation. This created Anomie for the Indigenous Australians and birthed a deviance in their culture and a future full of unrest and tension. According to the Australian Governments Law Reform commission, 2018, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults make up around two percent of the Australian population, they make up twenty seven percent of the national prison population.  Aboriginals being a disadvantaged culture within the Australian population, (Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association & Centre for Health Research and Evaluation UNSW, 2010) which is reinforced in statistics, Indigenous Australians have a lower percentage of accessibility to education, housing and medical care then the non-indigenous population (ABS, Australian Social Trends, 2000). This low socio-economic standing shows a direct link to their beginning in white history, lands being stolen, mass murder, a stolen generation and a forced assimilation into white culture. Further to this, one can see a direct link to Merton’s strain theory and Anomie forming a deviance in their culture and a tension. This creates a high crime rate amongst aboriginals, and a racial predisposition, meaning they are more likely to be sentenced and imprisoned for a smaller crime (Broadhurst, 1997). Further to this, a continuedpredisposition to crime around them when released which leads to what Sarcevic (2018) described in her article as a ‘revolving door’ cycle of incarceration and reoffending. In the Symbolic Interaction view, Edwin Sutherland had a theory that deviant behaviour could begin from the opinion of others being forced upon you to a point where the deviant behaviour is assumed as part of someone’s personality (Friedrichs, 2017). Aboriginalsin Australia have a stigmatism surrounding them, they are believed to be a deviant culture or race. These stigmatisms originated from the first settlement of British people. The British settlement in Australia brought disease and pestilence, also came weaponry, enslavement and ultimately, stolen lands, natural resources and a stolen generation. Aboriginals in Australia were viewed as deviant and different from the norm or the Anglo British supremacy. The link between Aboriginal history and Sutherlands theory is quite clear in this. Aboriginals are stigmatised as deviant and criminal and therefor assume the persona of a deviant criminal in order to become the best version of what they are viewed as. This is where the negative view of deviance in Social Interaction can create a negative change and a shift in persona of an entire race. In turn this creates an impact on Australian Society.Deviance also has the ability through the pushing of boundaries, and the opposing of social norms to create and cause change in society. An example of this is homosexuality in Australia. Homosexuality in Australia was once viewed as the epitome of deviance, it was an illegal act and viewed with the utmost of stigmatism by both the individuals in society and the overall law and society of Australia.