Girls and Gangs

Although it has been well known that males tend to make up the majority of gang members, an increasing number of female gangs have been showing up; Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba are just a few of the provinces where female gangs are popping up (Statistics Canada, 2008). Often the study of the female youth gang rate is neglected within research and the correlation between the gangs and social economic facts are forgot about (As cited in Jacob, 2006). Gangs and Girls: Understanding Juvenile Prostitution by Michel Dorais and Patrice Corriveau discusses how “gangs often use girls as accomplices

Anderson posits that this is a major reason why they join gangs; they want to earn their “manhood” or at least learn what it means to be a man. This leads to them getting a twisted idea of what it is to be a true man (Anderson 14-16). Another issue that Anderson discusses is the growing intensity of girls becoming more violent in reaction to different types of threats to respect such as rumors and gossip. While Anderson does say girls are less prone to killing others based on these issues, there is still a rise in fighting amongst those in the areas these gangs run rampant (Anderson 16-18). Finally, Anderson ends his article with a final component in which gang members try to earn a reputation for being “bad” as they call it. This comes down to the willingness to perform risky behaviors, and how little they fear death as a result of their activities (Anderson 18-19). Anderson terms this kind of culture to be an oppositional culture (Anderson 20).

Even though these youth lacked a stable caring family, they recognized that children deserve to grow up in nurturing and caring environments. Although ultimately the mother seems to be a prominent figure in their children’s lives. Similar to our current society were not all fathers have a active part in their children’s lives. Nevertheless, I doubt the fathers comprehend how this could fuel a viscous cycle of the mother who neglected her children in order to work to provide for them, just as their own mothers for the same reasons neglected them. However, becoming a parent was a valid reason for homegirls to exit the gang at any time.

"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

Alleyne, Emma & Wood, Jane L., (2011). Gang Involvement: Social and Environment Factors. Crime and Delinquency 60 (4) 547-568.

The overall aspect of gangs having rivalries over their reputation and turf is that they pursue to want to give more attention to the focus of having a wanted family that they think will protect them from their failures in life. Most gangs are primarily male but some admit women. Statistics show that 94% of gang members are male and only 6% of gang members are female. The females that are in gangs are treated very poorly. They are often required to have sexual intercourse with any of the males in the gang when asked. Also instead of getting jumped in like the male members of

The purpose of this paper is to understand, acknowledge and challenge communities to recognize gang behavior and gang affiliation. This paper will also describe the culture and what it means to be in a gang; key findings of the research; recommendations the community can employ to remedy the need; and discussions and implications for further study.

“ Gangs offer a hierarchy of leadership and a path to gain approval and achieve success,” Samenow states in the article “ The Myth of the Street Gang as a ‘Family Substitute’”. As stated, He believes that gang members come from broken families, searching for support, sustenance, acceptance, and a structure that the average family provides. He states that most gang members come from “criminogenic”

Many people recognize that gangs have been around for what seems like forever. What they don't realize is that the numbers are increasing to amazing proportions, there were 28,000 youth gangs with 780,200 members in the United States (in 2000) and 20% to 46% of those members are female (Evans). And what is even more shocking is, in Chicago alone there are 16,000 to 20,000 female gang members (Eghigian). These girls start out as ?groupies?, become members, and sometimes even leaders of all-girl gangs because of troubles in the home, a need for money, for the social scene, or just because it is all they know.

It gives out so much information of what it’s like to be part of a female gang. It also shows the long-term consequences of being part of a female gang. It shows the same information that Vigil provided, which was that according to their economic status and their neighborhood conditions, is one of the many reasons why they join. That can be included as street socialization, because many of young females join or start a gang, because of their surroundings and also what they’ve been through in their homes. Moore and Hagedorn mention, “Several studies found that the female gang may be a refuge from physical and sexual abuse at home.” Many women from low-income families have been through physical abuse, which sadly leads them to choosing the wrong path in life. This article also supports my hypothesis that street socialization is one of the leading roles of females joining gangs. Some of their neighborhoods can be considered dangerous and those young women get exposed to that kind of lifestyle, which leads them to the path of wanting to be part of a

Qualitative descriptions suggest that, for many, gang membership represents 104 Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice / May 2005an opportunity to enhance social capital as a means to cope with a multitude of problems. Although on balance gang life appears to be neither very rewarding nor satisfying (Hagedorn, 1988), identification with the gang is solidified in response to conflict—often with other gangs—as members pursue their individual and collective interests.

Many of the research that has been done on gang membership have been concentrated on the male population. The minimal work that has been done on female gang membership is reference to the young women has secondary roles or as sex objects in the gangs. However, women roles in gangs are changing in a steadily pace in which female gang member are committing more serious criminal crime and delinquency. The delinquency has been linked towards both serious and minor forms criminal activity. The delinquent behavior for gang members has been established by many factors in particularly in the neighborhoods one lives in. The neighborhood that female gang members live in has a differently impact and development toward them rather than compared with male

Power seekers are also drawn to gang life, which tend to commit crimes that victimize others. One ex-gang member, Lupita explains that she “liked belonging to a gang because people recognized her power and they respected her” (Bazan, Harris, and Lorentzen 380). Gang members use deceptive tactics to prey on the youth by promising protection, acceptance, power, and material wealth. Joining a gang seems to be the best option for disadvantaged youth because it gives them what they are longing for. However, this comes at a price.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention put out a bulletin in March of 2001, written by Joan Moore and John Hagedorn. It is centered on female gang research. Moore & Hagedorn tell us in this bulletin that in the 1980’s and 1990’s the male and FEMALE gangs “proliferated.” This is believe to be because of the closing of factories and other manual labor-type jobs that their parents held down for years were now closing rapidly. Many people lost their jobs and the youth

Gangs are becoming prevalent in today’s society and within our schools. More and more young people are turning to gangs in an attempt to escape their everyday lives and the future, which they perceive as dismal and bleak. They are initially attracted to the prestige and cash flow, which is glamorized by the street gang. Many gangs are actively involved in criminal misconduct, such as drug and gun trafficking, burglaries and homicides. However, street gangs are not just a criminal justice issue, but a social problem, which is triggered by poverty, peer pressure, boredom, despair and lacking a sense of belonging.