Gangs. Is the trigger for gang membership blamed strictly on the lack of family interaction or the feeling of superiority among teens?

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Christin Escaross

Mr. Kramer

English 3, Period 8

April 4 2011

Gang

        Is the trigger for gang membership blamed strictly on the lack of family interaction or the feeling of superiority among teens? “Gangs are simply collections of antisocial individuals who would be offending at the same rates even if they were not organized into gangs” (Delinquency). Gangs can be determined by the race and genders of teens. Gangs can also attract teens the promise of a sense of belonging that they might not have at school or at home (Klein). Being part of a gang can give you the feeling of being respected. A life of a gang member can go through different series of problems with alcohol and violence. The life of former gang members can give teens a different perspective of joining.

        In 2004 there was a survey where “youth gang membership was estimated at 760,000 and total youth gangs at 24.000 (Delinquency). Their are five risk factors that predict teenagers to join gangs: individual, family, school, peer, and community. In the individual stage, the illegal drugs used by teens and the early dating which can lead to sexual activity. Teens without a family or a stable home can lead them to join a gang. In school, teens can feel the lack of safety and the negative vibe from teachers. Peer factors associates with delinquent or aggressive peers. Poverty and drugs in the community can persuade them to join for safety (Delinquency). Childhood risk factors included early violence, acting out, and affiliation with antisocial peers. Having more than one of the risk factors has a higher chance of joining a gang.

        Teens of different race and gender join gangs all over the world. The ages of teens in gangs vary from place to place. The beginning of adolescence is when someone would join a gang because it is a time when young teens are developing their identities. In Rochester, New York 30 percent became a member of a gang between the ages of 14 and 18 (Delinquency). Gang activities are “centered in larger cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago” (Klein). Gang activities still occur in major cities and schools nationwide. “Gangs were not just for guys, up to 33 percent of gang members are girls” (Klein). Girls would join because they did not feel like they were being respected by others due to their race. The race or ethnicity of the United States gang youth members were Hispanic, Black, White, and Asian. Gangs in less popular areas tend to have more white and more female members like in suburbs and small towns. “Among Rochester gang members, half of the males and two-thirds of the females stayed in gangs for a year or less, with very few youth remaining gang members throughout their adolescent years. Gangs may harm members in subtle as well as obvious ways, cutting them off from people and opportunities that could help them with the transition to adulthood and disrupting their lives even after they moved beyond the gang” (Delinquency). The gang membership tends to be short-lived, even among high-risk youth.

Join now!

        “The formation of gangs can offer the respect and sense of belonging that all adolescents desire.” Respect is often translated to intimidation or fear. (Wyrick). It attracts the youth to join for a solution to their problems and a shortcut to earning respect. “Once in a gang, young men gain status and respect through their ability both to assert themselves and to defend their fellow gang members” (Hunt). Teens also join because they feel like they will be protected by others in their neighborhood. “Gangs appeal to kids who feel they don’t fit in elsewhere because the gang will embrace ...

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