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Case Study: Why Do Youth Join Gangs

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Case Study: Why Do Youth Join Gangs
Presently, youths and adolescent teens have become progressively enticed to join gangs. An individual joining a gang or a non-criminal group consists of different pushes and pulls that work in tandem to represent an attraction or dominating force. In this case, for example, “gang membership can increase status among peers, especially girls (for boys)” while also allowing the opportunity to be with them (Why Do Youth Join Gangs?). Gangs also provide a sense of excitement through illicit drug selling and the ability to earn money. By committing these illicit acts, youths perceive themselves making a rational choice in their decision to join a gang. It is assumed candidates for gangs are already delinquent or have a high probability for delinquency …show more content…
Affiliation with gangs as an adolescent teen impedes academic success. By having low commitment to school and high levels of anti-social behavior, creates a label for any youth to be known as someone who is “learning disabled” (Why Do Youth Join Gangs?). A youth that is negatively labeled becomes trapped in that label due to the process of tagging. In this circumstance, “tagging is the process whereby an individual is negatively defined by the agencies of justice” (Schmalleger, 2014 pg. 231). The justice defined in this case, are the teachers and distant students towards a youth. Secondary deviance is a result of tagging and plays a forceful role on the youth to internalize their negative labels placed upon by others to assume the role of the …show more content…
Certain behaviors demonstrated by the adolescent become unregulated and uncontrolled. These youths grow up and due to their unregulated behavior, consequently corrupt the future youths of the community they live in (Why Do Youth Join Gangs?). Their behaviors become cultural norms within the community resulting in the creation of barriers that prevent social and economic opportunities. The defiant character that may manifest from gang affiliation produces a “fatalistic view of the world” providing the youth with the interpretation that everything or anything that happens around them is fate and
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