Why People Choose To Join A Gang

It is important to note that the pushes and pulls of gang membership are not necessarily mutually exclusive, in that they may simultaneously impact a youth’s decision to join a gang. However, by and large, numerous studies have found that youth themselves are more likely to report being “pulled” into the gang. This is especially evident in widespread accounts of youth who report joining the gang based on the social desire to be around gang-involved friends and/or family. In comparison, youth less frequently report being coerced or actively recruited to join the gang. This finding is important to note, since the latter is commonly (though erroneously) believed to be the primary reason youth join gangs, with many states developing legislation

I think you did a great job on your post as well as explaining the reasons why you think people join gangs. I agree that the main or most important reason people join gangs is for a sense of belonging or the need to feel a part of the family. I also like the point in which you made regarding the qualities of a gang and how they hardly display components of a family or team based on cultural aspects. I think your use of statistics was great and contained vital information regarding the increase in gang participation. All of your ideas were great. Nice post!

Gangsterism is typically defined as the culture of gangs. A definition of what is a gang varies from countries to countries. However, usually gang is attributed to criminal street gang or neighborhood-based street gangs. They are composed of teenagers ranging from ages to 16 to 21 years old. Also, they are commonly involved in many crimes such as armed robbery, assault, auto theft, trafficking, fraud, murder, etc. Because of these behavioral acts among the gangs, they are generally considered to be criminals or deviant by most of the society. Moreover, gangs are drug distributors. They are used by drug syndicate to deliver illegal drugs such as the marijuana or cocaine or they even become users of it. The world of gangsterism is definitely a harsh and dangerous one. But, how come that there are teenagers who are attracted to join a gang? Why would they choose to be in a group where they have no future at all? There are many reasons why these people choose to be this way. First, they find protection. One of the reasons why a person would join a gang is for him/her to find a group that will protect him/her. A gang is very much bounded by brotherhood. Everyone is willing to help each other. Also, what is the business of one is the business of all. Second, they find self-worth. He/She thinks that joining a gang is “cool.” Usually, members of gang wear baggy pants, big and loose t-shirts, and bling blings. Some also wear tattoo. They might find it interesting and attractive which

First off, there are a few definitions for gangs because authorities had a hard time explaining what a gang even is. “Walter Miller (1982:313) contrasts gangs with law violating youth groups, which he defines as “an association of three or more youths whose members engage recurrently in illegal activities with the cooperation and moral support of their companions.” This definition of law – violating youth groups does not include structure or territory, two important elements of Miller’s definition of youth gangs. Spergel (1984:200) similarly defined delinquent groups as “an association of two or more youths, usually between the ages of ten and seventeen years, who are engaged in acts defined as illegal”(Covey, Herbert. Street Gangs throughout the world.Springfield,IL: Charles C Thomas,2010.Print). “Groups of youths considered deviant youth groups (and no one knows for certain the extent to which these groups referred to as gangs) did not exist in any large number in the United States until the nineteenth century, although one report notes that they were found in some area during colonial

A gang can be anything from a group of people donating to a good cause to killer , robber, phonies, drug attics. Literally anybody can be in a gang no matter what color you are, what race you are , it doesn't matter. People join gangs for many different reasons Protection , Attention, Popularity, Dirty Money, Peer Pressure ,and Curiosity there are many more. Bad gangs get together and rob people , sell drugs, rape girls, lace people , kill people, kill cops, break every law they can possibly break just because they want to. When I was growing up gangs were around and influenced a lot of other kids but I didn't let them influence me . Those influences actually came from school and the students attending. Belleville West has lots of gang members

There are many ways to get into a gang, but there are many reasons why people join, and what benefits they yield from joining a gang. Many members of gangs will see benefits to a gang, but those benefits are only received if one were to pledge to the steep risks that come with being in a gang. Benefits can range from gender, but they are usually the same, but there are different roles played based on one's gender an example would be females in gangs, “roles of women include: holding and transporting drugs, and guns as law enforcement as less likely to search women”(pg. 42, Eghigian, Petrenko). Women in gangs may have small roles, but still “important” ones that are equally as dangerous as a mans. This is because the “rewards” are similar for,

In some parts of the United States, there are people that murder each other because they live on the wrong street. These people are gang members, and many of them are merely children. They take each other’s lives for something as simple as the colors they wear. To them, these colors are fellowship; they are pride. And what do these children have if not for pride? It is often pride that drives them to the gangs, because they are able to make money without having to request the assistance of others. Selling drugs is a quick, easy way to make a large sum of money. They look and see all of the “O.G’s” or “Original Gangsters” and the vast quantities of money that they make and want to be like them. The kids growing up in these troubled neighborhoods

By joining a gang young people are able to obtain a sense of belonging, feel important, and seek family support.

Gangs frequently socialize and even recruit youth that live in the gangs neighborhood and who attend the local public schools. Gangs target the youths that are eager to belong or easily talked into doing tasks for the gang. These gangs take advantage of the hardships these youths experience while growing up. Unfortunately this type of life is chosen at a critical time in the individuals life when they are at the point where their peers have a big influence on their personal decisions. In recent years gangs have began to recruit younger members mainly due to the fact that they are easily influenced and usually receive lesser punishments.

What is a gang? There is no universal definition, in fact there are different federal and state definitions. There are few factors that every definition agrees on. It is a group of three or more people and they frequently identify themselves by one or more of the following: a common name, identifying sign, symbol, tattoo, or other physical marking, graffiti or hand signs. The National Association of Social Work describes three types of gangs: At the top are Entrepreneur gang that operates a hierarchical structure with clear and established leaders. Then there are violent gangs that engage in physical attacks and threats of future attacks. Finally, there are Drug dealing gangs where their members sell, market, and traffic illicit drugs.

Other members join because they live in the gang area and are, therefore, subject to violence by rival gangs. Some young people join a gang solely to survive, as joining a gang guarantees protection and retaliation against attacks from outside gangs, which gives members a feeling of security. (Delaney 96) Some youth are peer pressured and threatened into joining gangs, which leaves them no choice but to join the gang. Some youth that get involved in gangs have no idea what they are getting themselves into, and once they are in, they can never get out. They join a gang in order to feel love and acceptance, but are too ignorant to realize that they are being used in order to carry out the gang’s dirty work. If they are ordered to rob a grocery store, kill a rival gang member, or rape an innocent bystander, and refuse, they will be punished, brutally beaten, and often times murdered. If you attempt to leave a gang you could be jumped, your house could be invaded, or you could even get caught up in a drive by at any time. Your family’s lives are also at risk because even if you move and change your identity, they will seek after and kill your family if they are unable to find you. By joining a gang you are giving up your free will, and are putting your life as well as the lives of others in danger. I feel S.E. Hinton does a great job of portraying the harm that comes out

Gang violence is a reality that many American citizens must deal with from day to day.

Low self-esteem, influenced by a peer, influenced by mass media, poor parenting and lack of social skills may under rooting adolescents joining the gang or even forming a small gang which directly or indirectly causing negative effects on both the adolescents themselves and the society.

You have made valid points William. I too was not surprised to see what the research showed as contributing factors as to why youth’s join gangs. Family members already affiliated with a gang and peer pressure is the two leading variables that sway vulnerable youth’s towards gang activity. I understand how easy it can be to be swayed into gang activity if you do not have the support system at home. Without being taught proper morals and values and having strong role models to emulate, youth’s often are led down the wrong path towards drugs, alcohol, and other illegal activities. I agree with Dr. Drown, even youth’s that come from a strong family support system do choose to go down the wrong path because of psychological

crimes and juveniles joining organized gangs. These juveniles are not only joining at a younger age but are committing more violent crimes then there antecedent. What makes these young men and women decide to participate in the violent and often deadly crimes of gangs. They be so eager to submit himself or herself to the torture of initiation or risk there life. A gang is a static or fluid organization, network or collective, possesses identifiable leadership or a leadership structure, associates on a continuous basis. It has a main purpose or activity the facilitation