What Are Somali Gangs?

Bullying is defined as “verbal, physical, or psychological abuse or teasing accompanied by real or perceived imbalance of power” and is usually targets what children perceive as different (Olweus, 1993). Bullying is prevalent across the nation. It has devastating effects on students each day. Bullying is a problem for all students, regardless of race, gender or class. The National Education Association reports that 160,000 children are absent intentionally from school each day because they fear being bullied whether it is an attack or just intimidation by other students. This accounts for 15% of all school absenteeism (Hunter, 2012). Dan Olweus (1993) from the National School Safety Center tells us that bullying includes three parts: (1)

Bullying among school-aged children is regarded as a widespread problem in the United States and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), over one third of students in elementary and middle schools are impacted by bullying (Klein, 2012). Bullying is defined as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time” (Klein,2012). Studies show that the consequences of bullying not only include students who are bullied, but the effects extend to those who bully and

Bullying has engrained in American society since the country’s founding. Bred from a capitalistic economy and competitive social hierarchy, bullying has remained a relevant issue through the years. School age children are learning skills and lessons from their teachers as well as through peer interactions. Although schools are great tools that children benefit from, there are some bad experiences, such as bullying, that may negatively affect and remain with these children for the rest of their lives. Some

Bullying is defined as the prolonged malicious act of harming peers by abusing their own--or an existing imbalance of--power, and has become one of the most common sources of trauma among adolescents. One report shows that one of three children were victims of bullying during some point in their life, and that 10-14% of all adolescents were victims of chronic bullying for at least six months prior to conducting the survey. Children who were victims of bullying are also found to be at a higher risk of diagnoses for anxiety disorders and depression during young and middle adulthood. These victims are reported to be more likely to have lower levels of general/physical health and lower educational acquirements than young and middle aged adults who were not bullied (Wolke & Lereya, 2015). Because bullying is such a prominent problem, citizens, policymakers, and social scientists alike, should feel or have some social and moral obligation to address, and hopefully avert bullying.

Bullying is a serious problem that should not be ignored. Bullied children are known to be more likely to have anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Bullies often seek victims who seem unable to defend themselves. Targets may also suffer long-term consequences of persistent bullying. Many researchers have indicated that bullies have antisocial tendencies.

Bullying is a pervasive problem among children and adolescents, and may take various forms including physical (e.g., hitting), verbal (e.g., name-calling), relational (e.g., social isolation), or occurring in cyber space. Previous studies have consistently shown that depression is associated with exposure to bullying. Bully-victims, a group of individuals who are both bullies and victims, are a distinct group at highest risk for psychosocial problems.

To deny the existence of bullying throughout the nation, especially within the brick walls of school, is to be ignorant. Bullying is a huge issue that is evident in may schools throughout America. Seventy percent of students throughout schools in America have said that they have witnessed bullying. A total of forty-nine percent of student in grades 4-12 have reported getting bullied at least once a month. Parents have to constantly worry about their child getting picked on while at school. One out of every four students, equalling to around twenty percent, are bullied every year. Around fifty-five million children throughout the United States are attending school this year, many whom are getting bullied.

“Gangs are groups of three or more people who band together for protection, socialization, or financial gain. By joining, members take on a common identity of the gang.” (Staff, 2014) Gangs have existed in America since the American Revolution. The presence of gangs has increased in the U.S.; they affect almost 3,550 jurisdictions as of 2007. (Staff, Gangs, ProQuest LLC., 2014) In recent years, they have even corrupted the most secure organizations, such as the armed forces and professional sports leagues, (Staff, 2014). Gangs have been very common throughout the history of the United States, but the history has greatly impacted our society.

during their development from their childhood to their early adulthood. Sourander et al. (2007) studied the association between bullying and being a victim of bullying at an early childhood age of 8 and the mental disorder impact it has later in early adulthood. Some 2,540 boys born in 1981 were selected for the study. Information regarding bullying and being victims of bullying were captured from their parents, teachers and other children at the age of 8 or in 1989. Than further information was gathered on the subject during their life at the ages of 18 and 23 thru military registry information. Based on univariate logistic regression, children that only bullied frequently showed antisocial personality, issues with substance abuse, and mental

The study revealed the prevalence of youth gangs and gang-related activity, especially in major metropolitan cities, where youth gangs increased thirty-six percent from 2002 to 2011 (Merrin, Hong, & Espalgae, 2015). The study attributed numerous factors to the rise in youth gang involvement, and highlighted the primary individual factor as mental health problems including depression, traumatic stress, and antisocial behavior (Merrin, Hong, & Espalgae, 2015). Additionally studies suggest youths who participate in delinquent behavior, consume alcohol, and use illicit drugs are at a significantly higher risk to become involved with gangs (Merrin, Hong, & Espalgae, 2015). The family context of a youth’s development plays a vital role in their

Pursuing the discussion of gang culture further, young people often embrace the gang life as a sense of belonging (Regan, 2011, p.55). Another proposing influential factor may be family for young people; some families have been experiencing breakdowns, hence resulting certain youths to grasp the opportunity of joining gangs. Willow (1999, cited in Smith, 2007, p.198) who argues that young people are ‘pressured’ into joining gangs, due to having negative issues within family homes – in evidence of this point, Willow (1999) states that “Some people in gangs get involved because they could have a bad life at home” (Smith, p.198, 2007) That being said, broken homes and a lack of fatherhood could possibly be the reason for an increase in gang involvement

The country we live in has been affected and influenced by something that we now call a “Gang”. According, to Dictionary.com a gang is defined as a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, especially such a group engaging in delinquent behavior. Since the early 1900’s The United States of America has been affected by gangs. They originated from the Italian immigrants that were closely related to the Sicilian mafia and others that were located in New York City, there main motive was to steal and kill to achieve what they wanted. Since the Italian Mafia in New York City many other ethnicity 's have popped up in the gang violence scene. Starting in the 1950’s and 1960’s Asians, Hispanics, and African Americans began bonding together to form gangs, and by the time the 1970’s and 1980’s came around there were many national gang alliances that swept from Los Angles California to New York City and many smaller towns in between. Along with all the widespread gang activities there was also a lot of illegal drug running throughout the country for gangs for that they can finance there gang activities.

History and DevelopmentAccording to (Siegel and Welsh 2012, p. 326). In the beginning there were groups formed, and from groups to gangs. The records shows that gangs was developed in other nations back in the 1600s. Many of these gangs had a negative effects on society, these types of gangs participated in many illegal and criminal activities. They were label as stereotyped with negative names, there were mischievous in robbing, rape, extortion, theft and vandalism. Gangs spread in the United States in the 1800s, there were 1300 youth gangs that had formed in the city of Chicago.

Many people do not realize how serious bullying has become. If you look at statistics suicides due to bullying have increased over just a few short years. This has become a very big problem for not only the victim but the bully as well as it affect both of them. School bullying is mentally destructive to not only the victims, but bullies because of the harmful words, harassment, and physical violence involved as well as the consequences for the bully.

Bullying affects every person in a different way, from the people who are actually bullied to the ones who do the bullying, and also the people who witness the bullying are affected (stopbullying.gov). “Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. It is important to talk to kids to determine whether bullying—or something else – is a concern” (stopbullying.gov). “Effects of bullying can bee seen in tragic emotional consequences for victims of bullies.