“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 you, will give you a sense of belonging” (Klein). Someone to go to where you feel wanted, but what they don’t realize is that they are being wanted for the wrong reasons. “Being part of a gang sharply raises a young person’s risk of being a victim of violence, not just a perpetrator” (Delinquency).
“Violence and its relationship to illicit drugs have largely neglected the importance of alcohol in gang life” (Hunt). Young teens that have the use of guns, support violence as a suitable method for resolving dispute(Wyrick, Social Belonging). In the life of a gang, partying is a focal event where drinking is an essential component. “Alcohol is still the most widely used substance by both gang and non-gang youth” (Hunt). Such violence may affect the community as a whole, not just the people involved in gangs (Klein). “Gang members were accounted for 54 percent of the arrests, 68 percent of the property crimes, 69 percent of the violent offenses, 70 percent of the drug sales and 82 percent of the serious delinquencies (Delinquency). Gang members become victims as they embrace a lifestyle in which their own violence begets more violence (Wyrick). When you are part of gang, “You are most likely to commit every type of crime or carry a weapon and most likely drop out of school” (Klein).
The government decided to step in and open programs to prevent gangs. “Law enforcement officials started to take a renewed interest in gangs because of their involvement in drug use and drug sales” (Hunt). “Superior gang prevention efforts blend effective support systems with attractive alternatives to gangs, and target these services to adolescents who are most at risk for gang involvement” (Wyrick). The united way was a six-month planning process that would focus on the “prevention, intervention, and suppression of gang activity” (Russell). “Youth gangs were estimated to be active in more than 2,900 jurisdictions served by city and county law enforcement agencies” (Delinquency). The united way program has drawn over 60 community volunteers and 70 local programs that help at risk youth. Another program was the Homeboy Industries which started out as just a bakery but later became as rehab for gangs. Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest and founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries. When asked what inspired him to start the program, Father Boyle “refers to the deaths of young people due to gang related homicides” (Kim). This program helps the gangs correct their lives by keeping them away from gang violence. You can’t force someone to change, they have to be willing to change and fully cooperate. “The priest started the largest gang-intervention program in the U.S.” (Kim).
“Getting former gang members involved might be difficult” (Russell). In Rochester, New York, many former members of gangs weren’t willing to step forward and help (Russell). They still feared the intimidation and fear. Former gang members Benoit Assou-Ekotto, a soccer player, “Has revealed for the first time his past as a young member in the hope his story will help persuade teenagers to turn their backs on crime” (Peter). Being part of a gang could eventually have you in jail or even dead. According to Benoit, “Gangs were just the networks of friends that were an important part of belonging in my town” (Peter). Benoit decided he would devote himself to soccer to keep him out of making the same mistakes his friends did. Another former gang, Parker would listen to plans to improve teen gangs in the future. Carlos Perez, another former gang “Can take violence and turn it into something positive” (McCraken). When he was part of a gang, Carlos’ mom died of cancer and he wanted to change his life around for her. “In 2004, he enrolled in the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, concentrating in paintings” (McCraken). He painted to keep himself out of trouble and focus on what he likes to do.
Teens join gangs not to feel superior, but because they are neglected by their family members. They want the feeling of being admired and respected by the members of their gangs because they don’t have that back at home or school. Some are in poverty and just need a way to get out of it, so they join a gang. “Attractive features of gang membership and the gang lifestyle that typically include respect, excitement, social opportunities, protection, and money” (Wyrick). Gangs are not a social group, young teens who want to be wannabe gangsters should stop and focus on their future. Being part of a gang will not take you anywhere, they made several programs to prevent teens from joining gangs. Today the numbers of gang involvements have decreased since it started in the 1990s.
Work Cited
Hunt, Geoffrey P., and Karen Joe Laidler. "Alcohol and Violence in the Lives of Gang Members." Alcohol Research & Health 25.1 (2001): 66. Health Source - Consumer Edition. EBSCO. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.
Kim, Jen. "Give Gangs This Day Their Daily Bread." Psychology Today 43.1 (2010): 19. Health Source - Consumer Edition. EBSCO. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.
Klein, Melissa. "GANG GRIEF." Current Health 2 35.7 (2009): 26. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
McCracken, Patti. "One Way Out." Smithsonian 40.11 (2010): 10. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. "Youth Gang Violence Is a Serious Problem." Violent Children. Ed. Hayley Mitchell Huagen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Dominiczak, Peter. "Football saved me from jail and a life of violence in gang." Evening Standard 25 Jan. 2011: 18. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.
Russell, Matt. "Former gang member: Gang members need help from those who've been there." Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN) 30 Apr. 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 22 Feb. 2011
Wyrick, Phelan. "Adolescents Join Gangs for a Sense of Social Belonging." Gangs. Ed. William Dudley and Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.