Why the Young Join Gangs - Essay Example

Why the Young Join Gangs Dte Why the Young Join Gangs Introduction Young people make about a forty three percent of the world’s population. This means that at any given place there will be young people who are idle and have nothing to do preferably no meaningful play in the economy they are in. The young people are the youth who range between the ages of 15-24 years (United Nations, n.d., p. 1). The definition of a young person may change with circumstances due to demography, social and economic setting, but it mostly uses the United Nations definition. There is no single definition of gang due to the fact that they come in a variety of forms. A gang is a relatively durable, predominantly street-based group of young people who see themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernible group who engage in a range of criminal activity and violence, who identify with or lay claim over territory, have some form of identifying structural feature and are in conflict with other similar gangs (Centre for Social Justice, 2009, p. 21). Youth make a conscious choice to join a gang during adolescence, and multiple personal and environmental factors influence this choice A youth gang can also be defined as a self-formed association of peers having these characteristics: a gang name with recognizable symbols, identifiable leadership, a geographic territory, a regular meeting pattern, and collective actions to carry out illegal activities (Howell, 1997, p. 1). The majority of gang members are male and almost half of them are under the age of 18 years (Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2011, p. 2). This research will try to look at the factors and pre-conditions that make gang life an attractive and desirable option to the young people. The themes that will be espoused in the essay will be education and employment, gender, family, poverty ethnicity and peer pressure. The main conclusions to be drawn from the research are that the provision of basic amenities and opportunities will go a long way in preventing young people from engaging in gangs and gang related activities. Education and Employment The social development of a child is rooted in the opportunities, skills and the recognition that builds up through early interactions with family members, friends and teachers (Stefan Hounslea, 2011, p. 9). Education to the progression of a young person is significant. Thornberry discovered that 71.5% of ‘stable gang members’ had dropped out of secondary education compared to 33.6% of non-gang members (Thornberry, 2003, p. 169). He also found that the youth who transitioned smoothly from secondary to further education had the lowest levels of delinquent behaviour. The lack of education correlates to criminal activity and gang membership. A minimum standard of education has led many young people to be gang members, although most do not see it as a viable long term option. Both empirical evidence and government legislation have outlined the significance of education to a young persons development. Moloney et al (2009, pp. 305-325) examined a small sample of young gang members in depth, and found that 60% were no longer attending school, whilst only a quarter were attending college after dropping out from school. After leading a life of crime following limitations to gain an education, many gang members wants to rescind from gang activity, suggesting that due action to prevent gang entry can be made by focusing on people at risk while they are in school. Gaps in education system seriously impact on their futures, as the lack of education makes employment prospects difficult and hard to come by. This emphasizes the importance of education to the development of young people, and also the importance of the family in keeping them in line. Gender Most of the membership in gangs is predominantly male. This is further proved by evidence that “ just as high a proportion of girls as boys were members of gangs at the age of 13, but thereafter gang membership fell much more rapidly in girls than boys” (Smith & Bradshaw, 2005, p. 3). The issue of gender in not being a gang member is also a key theme as differing risk factors and opportunities must be present in order for gender rates to differ. Female groups have been rare and female roles within gangs are often marginalized. More research recently shows the role of women can be so subservient and that may be the most popular and active in the gang regardless of their exact role (Centre for Social Research and Evaluation, 2008, p. 22), where it is also believed that female members are influenced by the same psychological and social factors that influence male membership. Though the women membership in gangs is not high, it has also been brought about by economic marginality and the failings of the state in delivering programs that target the females. Females also join gangs for friendship and self affirmation which can also stem from failing families or their abuse in family settings thus seeking protection in gangs. Many female adolescents are attracted to gangs because their friends or boyfriends have joined. Although they were not recognized as gang members, these girls were “distinctly integrated” into the male gangs (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , 2010, p. 5). Also evidence suggests this claim that; “high proportions of female gang members have experienced sexual abuse at home” (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , 2001, p. 3). It is also evident that young women turn to such gangs as a way of protecting themselves from the violence and problems faced back at home. This problem was also apparent through a study of Mexican-American gangs, as half of the male gang members interviewed viewed females as possessions rather than equal gang members (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , 2001, p. 3). Research shows that women initially join the groups to escape abuse from family members however the abuse does continue from gang members and so protection cannot be a factor to be involved in a gang. Family Family plays an important role in the growth and nurturing of a young person. Lack of a stable family that is able to direct a young person to the right way can lead to truancy and subsequently to delinquent behaviour. This in turn leads young people looking for direction in other places hence gang membership. Smith & Bradshaw do point out that "low income family, disruptive family, low parental attachment and supervision are risk factors that lead to gang membership" (Smith & Bradshaw, 2005, p. 6). It also does come back to the theme of education which envisions that if a kid whose parents did not graduate from high school is likely to become gang members. It was suggested by Thornberry that "Adolescents whose parents have not graduated from high school are more apt to become gang members" (Thornberry, 2003, p. 89). Studies show that increased family responsibility has brought about desisting from gang related criminal activities. In that case, kids with present fathers were “credited for not only changing their lives, but, literally, saving their lives" (Moloney, et al., 2009, p. 312). Though many males do reach an age and they wish to leave the gang life and this happens where they have a family and they look for employment which enables them to provide for their kin. When a parent learns to increase positive attention and empathizing with the child, reduction of physical punishment and increase effective discipline will help reduce family conflict and keep the child home grounded which will prevent him or her from seeking what lacks in the family setting in a gang. Ethnicity In general, the ethnicity of the members of the group tends to reflect ethnicity population living in the area. So the members of the group in Glasgow and Liverpool are predominantly white, where members of the group in Manchester and London are predominantly black. The higher proportion of Black gang members overall reflects the disproportionate presence of Black communities in deprived inner city neighbourhoods’ ( Centre for Social Justice, 2009, p. 5) . Gang Membership is often portrayed, especially in the media, as a minor issue affecting minority groups in the inner cities of America. Although a disproportionate share of the members of the gangs are from minority groups, this picture does ignore a large number of white people involved in gangs and thus creates an inaccurate picture of the minority young people who do not join gangs. Further confusing the issue is that, although racial and ethnic minorities constitute the majority of gang members, according to both official and self-report data, these sources do not agree on the level of involvement of racial/ethnic minorities (Freng & J. Taylor, n.d., p. 136). There is no doubt that the community which one develops can increase the possibility of joining a gang it does not mean it should be a precursor to joining one. There should be ways to counter this notion though there is an increasingly level of multi racial gangs (Freng & J. Taylor, n.d., p. 137). Poverty Youth living in poor neighbourhoods or who were once poor at least before the eighteen years comprise nearly one third of American children. Many children in the US live in poor neighbourhoods’ in inner cities where access and the availability of alcohol and drugs are high. Gangs use these drugs to lure in underprivileged youth with promises of riches and the good life. Research also shows that young people who lived in neighbourhoods where many young people were in trouble were three times likely to join a gang as compared to young people from other neighbourhoods with less trouble (Stefan Hounslea, 2011, p. 22) . Poverty impact on crime can be explained through a variety of reasons. There is a high level of mental illness in poor than in rich. Poverty can lead to high levels of stress that in turn can cause people to commit theft or other acts of violence. Poverty may lead to an actual or perceived inferior education, which would cause youth to count on less access to quality schools, jobs, and role models, decreasing the opportunity costs of crime and increasing the probability of youth spending time on the street associating with gangs, etc (Taylor, 2006). People who suffer from lack of money may turn to crime if they cannot get enough through legal means. This explains in part why the gangs exist in the poor, rundown areas of cities. However, not everyone who is poor joins the gang and not every member of the gang is poor. Peer Pressure Peer pressure can be a very powerful influence young people and they decision that they make. Gang members tend to be young. This is because groups deliberately recruit young people, but also because young people are very susceptible to pressure from their peers. If you live in an area or go to school with gang members, one might be pressured into joining a gang by friends. It may be difficult for the young person to understand the effects of joining a gang because he is worried about losing all his friends. Many young people do influence the membership of the group, but for others it is easy to follow the crowd. The affiliation with gangs perhaps provides a sense of community and family since most are friends (White, 2004, p. 22). Conclusion By examining the key themes discussed in this paper, the paper formulates a conclusion and the recommendations to the posed question of why the youth join gangs. Though most of the factors discussed in this paper all play a part in encouraging young people to join gangs, some play a bigger role and if they were measures put in place by the authorities, then it would be easy to tone down recruitment of these young people into gangs and gang related activities. Education and employment play a very important role in the development of an area. Good education will lead to the acquirement of skill needed in the public and private sector. This means that chances of holding a good job will increase and also it equips the individual with skills that also help in being creative by creating jobs for others in case they do not get the work they desire. A good education also helps keep one grounded and able to make decisions on their own rather than following the crowd. Employment on the other hand will bring much needed cash in the family, whereas the parents are able to provide for their children and helps in keeping them out of the gangs due to quality life and schooling. From the essay, it shows if more interventions by the authorities by providing for quality education and good employment opportunities, young people would be less likely to join gangs. There should also be the availability of sporting opportunities that will likely play a big role in arresting the idleness among the young people which leads to less time to engage in gang activities. On the family and gender theme, we are able to see that if a young person is born into a criminal family or society the chances increase in one being involved in gangs. Young people will less likely engage in gangs or criminal activities if the parents are effectively engaged in a proper social setting rather in deviant behaviour setting. The siblings to a young person also play an important role by providing support be it mental or moral which will keep them from joining these gangs. Problematic family lives where a girl is under abuse might lead young women to join gangs. The theme of poverty and ethnicity are at time intertwined since you will find that places where most gangs operate are from the minorities where poverty is rampant. This will increase the chances of inner city kids who are poor to join gangs. By placing measures and structures that help improve these inner city neighbourhoods and the marginalized communities will go a long way in bringing down the growth of gangs. Despite the obstacles, the community can take action to prevent young people from joining groups. The first level of prevention involves changing experience that propels children and young people in gangs. This involves strengthening basic social institutions such as school and families which are important during the early years of a young person. Also, you must provide the right structures in the community where there is a greater risk of delinquency and gang involvement early in life. Communities with emerging youth gang are many. In many areas, officials may jump to the conclusion that if young people use gang signs and clothes they are in gangs, but some just do that to identify with famous gangs and so they should address the issue by educating the young people and getting to the root cause of why they would wish to join the gangs. Society must make an assessment of identifying troubling behaviour and thus preparing a plan of action that is tailored for that society to deal with the issue of gangs. Bibliography Centre for Social Justice, 2009. Breakthrough Britain: Dying to Belong, London: Centre for Social Justice. Centre for Social Research and Evaluation, 2008. Youth Gangs in Counties Manukau. Issue 8, p. 22. Freng, A. & J. Taylor, T., n.d. Race and Ethnicity: What Are Their Roles in Gang Membership?. National Institute for Justice, Volume 273, p. 136. Howell, J. C., 1997. Yout Gangs. OJDDP Fact Sheet, Issue 72, p. 1. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2011. www.pssg.gov.bc.ca. [Online] Available at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/shareddocs/pubs/crime-prev-series1-youth-gangs.pdf [Accessed January 2015]. Moloney, M., MacKenzie, K., Hunt, G. & Joe-Laidler, K., 2009. The Path and Promise of Fatherhood for Gang Members. The British Journal of Criminology, 49(3), pp. 305-325. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , 2001. www.ncjrs.gov. [Online] Available at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/231116.pdf Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , 2010. www.ncjrs.gov. [Online] Available at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/231116.pdf [Accessed January 2015]. Smith, D. & Bradshaw, P., 2005. Gang Membership and Teenage Offending. Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime Research Diges, Issue 8, pp. 3-6. Stefan Hounslea, D., 2011. Youth Gang Membership: An Investigation of Young People Joining and Leaving Gangs. p. 9. Taylor, B., 2006. economics.fundamentalfinance.com. [Online] Available at: http://economics.fundamentalfinance.com/povertycrime.php Thornberry, T. P., 2003. Gangs and Delinquency in Developmental Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. United Nations, n.d. www.un.org. [Online] Available at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-definition.pdf White, R., 2004. Australia. In: M. P. Duffy, ed. Teen Gangs: A Global View. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 22. Read More