Analysis: Why Teens Turn To Gangs

Gangs originated naturally during the adolescent years of a child. They started from small play groups that eventually found themselves in conflict with other small groups of youth. Due to the conflict between the two small groups of youth it became a part of a child’s mind set to come together as a gang and protect their rights and satisfy the needs that their environment and families couldn’t provide. There are about 24,500 gangs in the U.S and out of those gangs 40% of them are juveniles (Hess, Orthmann, Wright, 2013). There are numerous reason why a child would join a gang, and the

Many years of research have gone into studying why youth turns to gang involvement. A sector of this population has only recently been a focus of any study at all and that is the female. From the authors De La Rue, Espelage research they estimate that female gang membership is anywhere from 10 to 35% of the total gang population (De La Rue, Espelage 2014 pg. 1). There are many pieces that drive females to join the gang lifestyle. There are three major causes that drive females to gang involvement; family influences, relationship drives, and prior victimization.

"They also report that most females join gangs for friendship and self-affirmation but also to work in an informal economy to generate income due largely to their economic marginality. They often see the gang as a refuge from victimization (typically sexual) at home" (Vito & Kunselman 375). This victim mentality among females can result in low levels of self worth and a desire for outside security that results in gang participation. Female gang members commit the same types of offenses as males, but are typically less violent and aren't as participatory in assaults. "A multiyear study of 74 female gang members revealed that their rates of violence dramatically increased in the period between joining the gang and their first pregnancy and then decreased with pregnancy and childbirth" (Vito & Kunselman 375). Male gang participation typically continues well into adulthood, while female gang participants are often drawn out of their involvement after

Gangs have existed in America since the early eighteenth century, they first rose a outsider institutions that provided membership and sense of self to individuals who were not seen as part of the community. Traditionally, gang membership correlates to familial membership; parental and family membership in a gang elevates the possibility of youth also joining a gang. Though these outsider institutions have developed overtime, they pose some of the most violent threats to public safety, but also to those they say they will protect. It is this violence and lifestyle dominated by power associated with gang memberships that create an appeal to black youth and change the course of their lives. Gangs are a creation of an ongoing cycle, in which society has failed to improve conditions for teens who are looking for new ways to belong in the community.

Gangs make great promises and pray on the vulnerable. Often these promises include, giving unconditional support, and lead to becoming the family these kids probably have never had. They offer a sense of unity and support. Gangs present themselves as a means of survival to youth who lack basic fundamentals such as food, clothing and shelter. They are trying to ignore a negative home life, or may be looking for an adult figure to guide them. And, most risk factors cut across racial and ethnic lines.

Adolescence is a point in a child’s life when they are transitioning to become more independent pro-social beings, in which behavioral changes occur as they enter adulthood. Exposure to Gang membership at a young age is proven to be very influential and can be a risk factor for children who have parents involved in gang activity (Augustyn, 2014). Men involved with gangs who are imprisoned and have sons’ on the outside encourage them to join the gang as well in order to stay protected while they are in prison (Shade, 2013). These youths are extremely vulnerable to influence and will usually do what their parents ask of them specifically in a situation where rival gangs may be after them due to their parents involvement with a gang. If children

In most cases, adolescents join gangs because of close relationships with family members or friends who are already in gangs. Some adolescents are born into gangs as a result of either their parents’ gang history or neighborhood affiliation (The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention: Why Do Youth Join Gangs?, 1998). Protection is also extremely important when it comes to gangs, violence is an everyday occurrence in many gang related environments, and as a result, many adolescents seek out gang involvement for protection from opposing gangs (Taylor &

Teenagers that live in communities where violence is rampant are particularly vulnerable. Gangs and drug distribution provide exposure to violence and violent role models and positive rewards for violent activity. Many children join gangs for recognition, status, safety, security, power, and excitement. Those that are raised under conditions of social deprivation are particularly drawn to gangs. Many youth view joining a gang as a normal and respectable, although the consequences for joining are a series of delinquent and violent acts

These factors include a family’s position in the social hierarchy, family violence and substance abuse, and negligence within a family. Everyone is impacted socially by their status and make decisions resulting from this. In reality, gangs do provide power. This power, however, has a negative impact and can result in dangerous actions being taken. The consequences of these actions include going to jail and death of the gang member or their loved ones. Joining gangs may initiate from the family but it also has a reciprocal effect of hurting them. This is sometimes due to the poor socialization of children. Joining a gang, however is not a normative event and is not foreseen by theoretical perspectives. The impacts of joining a gang are significant as they harm society as a whole and increase the death rate. Unfortunately, there is an increasing amount of youth gangs in Canada which is becoming harder to control. Many organizations such as the RCMP are taking action to prevent youth joining gangs. Children are with an authority figure from the day they are born and if they happen to face hardships, the chances of them integrating into a gang intensifies. Overall, influences begin from the household an individual is grown up in. Habits, beliefs, and actions come from the process of nurturing and if it does not suit the needs of the child, the child will begin to see youth gangs as an open

Socialization and peer influence and pressure can be a leading cause for teens to join gangs. I too was surprised that 1 in every 100 people are gang members. Between the ages of 13 and 15 the average person joins a gang. (Pyrooz, 2013). While the duration is 2 years I was unaware that gang activity had an expiration date. Every gang member that I have heard of or know is supposedly a member for life even though active gang activity diminishes with age.

This paper will examine the factors that contribute youth to involve in criminal gangs. It aims to look at social disorganization theory as well as rational choice theory to understand youth and their involvement in gangs. Three main factors that this paper will be focusing on and studying thoroughly are the effects of parental supervision, the community the youth is raised in and peer influence. Despite many programs that are instilled to ensure that youth are helped with delinquency, there are still many influences such as parental supervision, community and peer influence that can sway youth and their decision to join a gang. Based on this discussion, this paper will argue that the ways that children are educated and raised at a young age

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

The first reason we believe that youths join street gangs is for economic advancement. "Money makes the World go round", is a popular phrase used to show how money is the center of thought in society today. Whether gang banging, grinding, or attending college every person is after the dollar. Gang banging has been an industry that has afforded many youths growing up in impoverished neighborhoods. With the hope that one day they can move from the streets to that penthouse. The young men and women that become gang members see opportunity and money that afford them a better way of life. That bit of hope that of being able to break free of the poverty that holds them back. The money may seem to come fast in the lifestyle but it comes with a price, this could be a jail sentence or possible your life. It is important that youths are guided

Gangs have direct effects on a society, such as increased levels of crime, violence and murder. Gangs also have long-term or late suggestions in that gang members are more likely to drop out of high school, struggle with unemployment, abuse drugs and alcohol or in end up in jail. These factors not only contribute to the gang members, but they also force taxpayers to pay for welfare and community-assistance programs. Common reasons for the younger generation to join gangs, include trying to find a place where they belong and sharing in mutual desires for safety from family problems or life challenges. Together, the feelings and attitudes among gang members haze them to act violently, often self-contradictory with rival gangs. This violence leads to injury and death of not only members but also of bystanders in the community. High gang activity also causes fear among community members, discourages business activity and obstructs home-value appreciation. Communities, also must pay for higher levels of law enforcement when gangs are prominent.

Instead they worry more about being accepted into the right crowds and owning lots of expensive items to show off. Most people fail to realize gang members are products of a bad environment that they are forced to live in. Immigrant families arrive with little money and have no choice but to live in bad neighborhoods. Society sees ghettos that are overfilled with immigrants and gangs so all low-class minority teens end up being stereotyped as being gangsters. The violence is not only on the streets but also at home. Often times, lower-class minority teens come from unstable homes. Immigrant parents no doubt already have a difficult time trying to make it in this prejudice society. With hard time the common cycle of poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, and sometime physical abuse arises. As a result teenager often rebel against their parents and find solace elsewhere. Because of the lack of love and guidance from parents, teens often stray from the family and wander blindly into the life of a gangbanger. Many of these ghetto troubled teens feel that they have nothin going for them so choosing this type of lifestyle is their way of getting through life and it is the only way they know to get through llife. Adolescence is the most crucial time to shape a young mind. When the world is against them during these times, many minority teens tend to easily stray from the right path and enter into the wrong crowd. Gangs have become a growing