Why Kids Join Gangs

Why Kids are Joining Gangs

Subculture

Gangs are a brutal reality that citizens have to deal with in today's cities. What has made this subculture come about? Why do kids think that being in a gang is both a satisfactory and impressive way to live? The long range respond to these questions can only be speculated upon, but in the short term the answers are much easier to stumble on. On the exterior, gangs are a direct result of human beings' personal wishes and peer pressure. To establish how to successfully end gang violence we must find the way that these ethics are given to the person. Unfortunately, these can only be hypothesized. On the other hand, by looking at the way people are influenced in society, I believe there is good confirmation to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, drugs and our economic system.

Gangs are caused by peer pressure and self-indulgence. Many teens associating with this subculture will pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it sound thrilling. Money is also an essential reason. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a member) is exposed that s/he could compose $200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Even if these are important factors they are not strong enough to make kids do these things that are against their morals.

One of the ways that kid's morals are twisted so that gang violence becomes more adequate is the power of television and movies. The run of the mill child spends more time at a TV than she/he spends in a classroom. Since nobody can totally turn off their minds, kids must be learning something while watching the TV. Very few hours of television watched by children are educational, so additional ideas are being engaged during this period of time. Many shows on television today are tremendously aggressive and are often showing this in a gang's standpoint. A normal grown-up can see that this is showing how revoltingly that gangs are living. To a child this portrays a cruel gang life as acceptable. 'The Ends Justifies the Means' outlook is also taught through many shows where the "goody guy" captures the "bad guy" through fighting and is then being highly praised. A young child sees this absolutely tolerable because he knows that the "bad guy" was wrong but has no idea of what adequate fear techniques are.

Gore in television also takes a huge piece in influencing adolescent minds. Children see brutal scenes and are captivated by these things that they have not yet seen. Grown-up spectators see gore and are not disturbed with the blood but somewhat with the pain the victim must feel. A younger mind doesn't make this relationship. Therefore a gore appeal is formed, and has been seen in quite a few of peers. Sorry to say kids raised with this kind of television end up growing up with a stronger tendency to becoming a violent gang member or 'violent-acceptant' human being.

"Gangs bring the delinquent norms of society into intimate contact with the individual."

So, as you can see if TV leads a youngster to consider that violent behavior is the standard this will obvious itself in the measures of the child quite, often in a gang position. This is particularly the case when parents don't spend a lot of time with their kids at the TV explanation what is right and what is wrong. Quite often newer books and some types of music will implement this type of thinking and thoughts.

Before the age of eighteen, the average American teen will have witnessed eighteen thousand simulated murders on TV. While staggering in number, more disturbing is the effect this steady diet of imaginary violence may have on America's youth. ( © 2002 Michael K. Carlie)

Once this state of mind is installed in adolescents they become ever more prone to being easily pushed into a gang state of affairs by any difficulty at home or elsewhere. For instance, in unfortunate families with many children or upper-middle class families where parents are always working, the children will often feel depressed of love. Parents can often feel that putting food on the table is sufficient love. Children of these families may often go to the gang initially out of boredom and to belong. As time goes on, a form of love or relationship develops between the gang members and the child. It is then that the relationship between the kid and the gang is completed because the gang has successfully taken the position of the family.

In male gangs problems occur as each is the members try to be the manliest. This often leads to all members participating in "one-up-man ship". Quite often this will then lead to each member trying to commit a larger and more brutal offense or simply additional crimes than the others. With all members participating in this type of action it makes for a never finish unorganized violence fling. In gangs with more sharp members these feelings end up making each member want to be the idol when the groups commit a offense. This makes the gang much more controlled and improves the self-esteem of members which in turn makes them more hazardous and very hard for the police to deal with and seize. (There is nothing harder to find and deal with than organized subculture of teens that are dedicated to the group) This sort of gang is usually frequent of middle or upper class people even though it can happen in gangs in the projects and other low rent districts too.

This "one-up-man ship" is often the motive between rival gangs hostility. All gangs feel dominant and they want to be feared. To do this they try to establish themselves as the solitary gang in a certain neighborhood. After a few gang fights extreme dislike forms and gang murders and drive-by's start to take place. When two gangs are at battle it makes living very unsafe for society in the area. Fewer that 40% of drive-by kills their projected victim yet over 60% do kill someone. This gang function is one of the countless reasons that sexual stereotypes and pressure to conform to the same must be stopped.

"Gangs form as a result of media portrayals of gangs, gang members, and gang-related attitudes, ideas, fashions, and behaviors."

One of the great factors in joining a gang is for protection.