Adolescent Gang Membership2

Adolescent Gang Membership:

Adolescent Gang Membership Amanda Ridgway

Adolescents:

Adolescents The most aggressive gang behavior is ages 14-18. At this age many youth are subjected to culture conflict, poverty, and family and school problems. Many are in a status crisis in the transition from childhood to adulthood, making them more vulnerable to joining.

Who joins gangs?:

Who joins gangs?

Gender:

Gender Both males and female’s are involved in gangs. Male involvement is much more common the female, but there is a rapid rise in female membership. Female’s are often used to lure people in for murder, carry weapons, and provide sex for the male members.

Racial Composition:

Racial Composition All races are involved in gangs. There is higher representation of minorities. The most dominant are Hispanic and African-American. Gangs are most often divided into four racial groups: African American, Asian, European, and Hispanic.

Why do they Join? :

Why do they Join?

Family:

Family The majority are from single parent headed households. Their family life is often very stressful and highly dysfunctional. Joining a gang gives them a feeling of family, support, and friendship that they are not receiving at home.

Protection:

Protection Most gangs are in low economic locations. These areas tend to be very violent. Joining a gang makes them feel like they have more protection then being on their own.

Peer Pressure:

Peer Pressure Some are peer pressured into joining. Where they live might be taken over by the gang and they are forced in. Others are born into the gang, with their family being multigenerational members. Even after they join there is constant peer pressure within the gang to do jobs, and move to the top. No matter what they have to do, they will do it.

Education:

Education Gang members usually drop out of school. Low economic schools tend to be very violent and have no communication with parents. They stop because of the fear from peers & teachers.

What do gangs Do?:

What do gangs Do?

Fighting & Drugs:

Fighting & Drugs Gangs frequently have ‘established’ enemies, that they have ongoing fights with. Such as other gangs. They fight to protect their status and specialized areas that belong to the gang. Gangs often sell and distribute drugs. Helping them gain membership, as well as money for weapons and cars.

What is the Outcome?:

What is the Outcome?

Prison:

Prison Many gang members end up in prison for murder, violence, theft, or drugs. Many of the top gang leaders are doing it from prison. They are the bosses that tell the rest what to do. Sadly, they work hard to gang admiration from others in the gang, so they don’t mind being in this situation.

End Membership:

End Membership Even though it is often dangerous and hard, many choose to leave the gang. They do this by moving or changing their identity.

Who’s Helping?:

Who’s Helping?

Family Therapy:

Family Therapy Family therapy helps them learn how to end the violence, neglect, and/or abuse. It helps them acknowledge what is going on with the child and teach the parents how to better be a stronger parent. The sessions always involve the role of the child in the family and how to redefine it for their future.

Group Therapy:

Group Therapy Group therapy is used when it’s to dangerous for the family to find out. Its also used after family therapy if the former member wants. Hearing stories from others about how they have led a successful life after ending membership can be very influential to those wanting to stop.

Prevention:

Prevention In the past there has been prevention exercises in high school. This does not help, because by this age it is to late and they are already in the gang life. Recently prevention is being taught in elementary and middle school.

Conclusion:

Conclusion Adolescent gang membership can be very harmful for their life and healthy development. They join to feel a connection they have never experienced. Prevention & Intervention has been successful.