The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors on the Likelihood of Youth Entering - Essay Example

? The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors on the Likelihood of Youth Entering Literature Review LITERATURE REVIEW YOUTH GANGS AND ITS MEMBERSHIP Origin of Youth Gangs Youth involvement in gang activities has become an issue of concern in most societies. This concern has led into many scholars and researchers to study the reasons as the why there are increasing incidents regarding youth involvement in Gang activities. The key reason why the society is concerned is because youth gangs members engage in criminal activities also commit violent serious offenses. According to Wiener (2005) he asserts that youth gangs are distinctive groups mainly associated with young adults in adolescents usually involved in extensive illegal activities in the society (Wiener 2005). In this study the author further asserts that these youth gangs develop negative identification with the law enforcers as well as the neighborhood residents. He further provides that youth gangs is not a new phenomenon in the society asserting that it dates back in 17th century where they were characterized with wearing of distinct colors for their identification and arose mainly from social and economic vacuum in their neighborhoods and their contemporary societies. Thus ascribing from this it can be argued that youth gangs have evolved leading to emergence of larger gangs. The notable emerging larger gangs are having sophisticate organization, have access to powerful and dangerous weapons and they continue to recruit young children into these gangs (Wiener 2005). Attributing to this youth gangs are considered a threat to the peaceful coexistence in the society at large. According to Howell (2005) in his research provides that the origin of youth gangs is greatly attributed to the economically and socially disadvantaged background. He asserts that these backgrounds have broken families and lack of community cohesiveness (Howell 2005). These youth gangs in most societies and neighborhoods are perceived by its members to fill several needs (Howell 2005). These needs range from psychological, physical, economic and social needs. It is notable that these underlying needs are associated with the failure of the family to fill the arising gaps from this. Taking into consideration these societal needs it can be asserted that gangs notable intents is focused on provision of friendship, sense of identity, searching for wealth and finally for the purpose of security (Howell 2005). Nature and organization of youth gangs According Brantingham (2006) in his publications describes how various youth gangs operates and how they co-ordinate their activities. The authors provide extensive understanding in regard to various youth gang behaviors by identifying and examining its leadership structure and its primary objectives. In this study it is notable that youth join gangs majorly for due to increasing trusting relationship within the gang family (Brantingham 2006). This is attributed to negligence as well as incompetence on the parents, clergy and teachers in performing their traditional roles of counseling and guiding the youth in the society. In the examination of youth gangs in general, it is notable that gang members have developed trusting solid relationships with their mentors who is considered the gang leader (Brantingham 2006). According to Campbell (2011) this relationship of the mentor and the mentee comes along with patience and the willingness and commitment of the mentor in pursuing of a strong relationship. It can be argued that the concept of being real comes in place which is a key attribute of any youth gang leader (Campbell 2011). This involves the gang leader relating genuine concerns on behalf of the gang members. The leader should act in accordance with the youth gang culturally appropriate manner without it being perceived by the gang members as preachy or contrived. Therefore the mentor needs not to condemn the mentee for their actions or their immorality but the real attribute ensures that the gang leader listens, understands and help the group members. In regard to communication approach the youth gang leader ensures that it is effective and this can be perceived that this consolidates the youth gang productive relationship and trust (Wanberg 2004). Therefore from this study it can be ascribed that it is effective youth gangs have intensive and extensive knowledge and understanding in regard to the gang social norms and rules (Campbell 2011). Categories of Youth Gangs According to JANKOWSKI (2003) in his study on the gang culture notably the emergence of you youth gangs provide the categories of youth gang. In this study the author provides three categories of youth gangs, these categories had some similarities to a larger extent. The first category of youth gangs are corporate gangs in which its main focus is making money and thus considered profit making (JANKOWSKI 2003). These categories are considered to be organized attributed by its clearly defined division of labor, high level of gang coordination and a well-entrenched hierarchy. The author asserts that this gang leadership structure has limited its exposure to the criminal and law enforcers thus members of the gang tend not to easily quit the gang (JANKOWSKI 2003). Therefore from this assertion it can be argued that this kind of the gang is highly mobile and their aim is to make profitability. Another notable category is scavenger gangs which are characterized with less organized structures. The members of the gang are motivated with the need to belong to a group only (JANKOWSKI 2003). This category of the gang usually commits impulsive crimes and violence. Thus the members of this gang are usually low achievers, with no clear objective and characterized with erratic behavior and prone to violence. Finally in regard to this are the territorial gangs having the key objective of securing and protecting what they perceive to be theirs. The author provides that they have a level of organization in its leadership having a flatter hierarchy (JANKOWSKI 2003). Therefore it becomes difficult to have full control of the members. It can be asserted therefore that members can easily depart from the gang and easy to keep in track since they are tied to their turf (JANKOWSKI 2003). In conclusion regarding emergence of youth gangs it is notable that youth gangs develop due to social and economic gaps. Youth gangs emerge as a result of mitigation of these gaps and the youths trying to address them. These gangs have their own social norms which are the guidelines that govern its operations. The leader is considered the mentor and provides guidance and coordination of gang’s activities. Communication approach is essential in building trust and better relationship among the gang members. The categories of youth gangs are basically demarcated with their objectives and leadership structure. YOUTH GANG MEMBERSHIP AND ITS INFLUENCES The reasons as to why youths in the societies engage in gang activities have become an issue of concern, thus becoming a subject of study among theorist and researchers. According to Goldson (2011) and Franzese (2006), the two authors provide that the reasons as to why youth become members of gangs have a great variation. They assert that these variations are attributed to the primary basic motives and that although they influence being members of gang they are not prompt (Goldson 2011). Search for Justice and Fairness in the Society According to Mcguire (2004) in his study provides the key reason for youths being members of certain gangs is the search of justice and commonality. In regard to this most of the youth in the society may perceive themselves to be oppressed. The author asserts that youths having common interests come together with the aim of fighting for their rights and justifying their presence by joining into these gangs (Mcguire 2004). From these assertions it can be argued that youths who consider themselves to being oppressed and individual efforts frustrated slowly develop rebel behavior. The youths consolidate this rebel behavior by joining together as member gangs to consolidate their campaigns and issues (Trusty 2002). Thus the common objective of addressing oppression and seeking justice in a greater extent influenced formation of youth gangs. It is because of this objective that these youth gangs end up losing focus and the main objectivity which at times result into criminal gangs (Mcguire 2004). Poverty among the Youths According to Esbensen (2012) in the study of the factors influencing the youth joining youth gangs points out that poverty and economic disadvantage as a major issue. The author accounts that there is increased poverty level among the youths thus most of the youths are faced with economic difficulties (Esbensen 2012). He further asserts the implications of this being a sense of desperation and hopelessness since they cannot meet their needs notably those which needs finances. Therefore ascribing this assertion of poverty it can be argued that youths living in poverty have difficulty in meeting both basic psychological and physical needs resulting into lack of pride and pride. This implicates them to join gangs to acquire cash through illegal trade such as drug trafficking (Esbensen 2012). Racism Factor Another reason influencing youths joining gangs according to Heinonen (2011) is racism. The author asserts that youths that face both institutional and personal racism have a high possibility of becoming members of gang groups. This involves youths being denied systematic privileges which include access to resources, equality and other important privileges. Therefore from this perspective it can be argued that youths develop anti-establishment gang groups to air their grievances (Heinonen 2011). Therefore increased racism activities and denial of their privileges towards the youths leads into establishment of gang groups. Influences from the Media Chaskin (2010) provides that another reason that influences formation of youth gang groups is the influence of the media. It is notable that televisions, movies, radio have great impact on the development of the youth. This has led into youths establishing their own value systems in regard to what they see in the media (Heinonen 2011). Most of the media promote violence, sex and drugs which promote development of gangs and consider it acceptable lifestyle. Lack of Networking Support According to Johnson 2004 on the research regarding the emergence of youth gangs asserts that the trend is greatly attributed to lack of support network. The author provides that most of the gang members usually come from homes and families where they feel neglected and alienated (Johnson 2004). These youths establish gangs to satisfy the needs for love which is not fulfilled in their respective homes and families. Therefore it can be argued that support network is essential in ensuring that the psychological needs are well satisfied. Therefore youths which lack support network is in the risk in being members of the gangs, thus communities need to provide appropriate programs (Johnson 2004). In conclusion the reasons why youths join gang groups can be summarized taking into account all the socio-demographic factors. This summary entails the need for the youths for self-identity as a distinguished group. Lack of personal esteem which is sought in the gang groups, lack of feeling and sense of purpose and finally poverty leading into involvement with Crimes and Drug trafficking. References Brantingham, P. L. (2006). Situational Crime Prevention as a Key Component in Embedded Crime Prevention. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice/La Revue canadienne de criminologie et de justice penale, 271-292. Campbell, S. M. (2011). Youth gang membership: Factors influencing and maintaining membership. Journal of University of Waikato, 320-500. Chaskin, R. J. (2010). Youth Gangs and Community Intervention: Research, Practice, and Evidence. Columbia: Columbia University Press. Finn-Aage Esbensen, C. L. (2012). Youth Gangs in International Perspective. New York: Springer. Goldson, B. (2011). Youth in Crisis?: 'Gangs', Territoriality and Violence. New York: Taylor & Francis. Heinonen, P. (2011). Youth Gangs and Street Children: Culture, Nurture and Masculinity . New York: Berghahn Books. James C. Howell, A. E. (2005). Moving Risk Factors into Developmental Theories of Gang Membership. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice , 334-354 . Johnson, C. D. (2004). Youth Gangs in Literature. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group . Kayleen M. Hazlehurst, C. H. (1998). Gangs and Youth Subcultures: International Explorations. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Kenneth W. Wanberg, H. B. (2004). Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents: Pathways to Self-Discovery and Change: The Provider's Guide. Philadelphia: SAGE. Mcguire. (2004). Understanding Psychology and Crime. New York: McGraw-Hill International. Robert J. Franzese, H. C. (2006). Youth Gangs. Chicago: Charles C Thomas Publisher. SANCHEZ-JANKOWSKI, M. (2003). Gangs and Social Change. Journal of Theoretical Criminology , 191-216. Trusty, J. (2002). Multicultural Counseling: Context, Theory and Practice, and Competence. New York: Nova Publishers. Wiener, V. (2005). Winning the War Against Youth Gangs: A Guide for Teens, Families, and Communities. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. Read More