Causes of Gang Involvement
Chris Brey
Mr. Luke
Written Communications
10 October. 2012
Causes of Gang Involvement Today, gangs in America cause a huge problem. Are there any positives for having a gang in the community? Does anything good come out of having a gang in the area? The answer to all of these questions is no. Gang involvement directly affects neighborhoods and has negative effects on communities. One of the first reasons a person joins a gang is because of economic despair or deprivation in the area they live in. Gangs form as a way for their group to make money. Some ways gangs earn an income is by selling drugs, committing thefts, prostitution of women, and sometimes even killing others for money. Because of economic despair, gangs are usually found in rundown neighborhoods. When we think of rundown neighborhoods, we think of poor housing and small incomes for those living in the neighborhood. This is why gangs will do just about anything for money. If the community or neighborhood fails to provide a way to earn money, the gangs will have to find other ways to receive an income. Gangs provide the member a way out of economic despair and into the lifestyle of “fancy living.” Because of bad economic times, this may cause a gang member to have low self-esteem about themselves. A member might be an outcast at the school they attend and are not well liked even in their own home sometimes. Even their own peers might give them a hard time. The gang entices the possible member with the ability to receive power, respect, and money. Gangs form in order to provide the individual with low self-esteem a chance to build their self-esteem through the gang. The gangs reputation, interaction with gang members, accomplishments of the gang, and gaining power through the gang sends loads of confidence to the new member. This new confidence usually gives the newest member the feeling of invincibility. But, as we all know, no one today is invincible. The thought of
Mr. Luke
Written Communications
10 October. 2012
Causes of Gang Involvement Today, gangs in America cause a huge problem. Are there any positives for having a gang in the community? Does anything good come out of having a gang in the area? The answer to all of these questions is no. Gang involvement directly affects neighborhoods and has negative effects on communities. One of the first reasons a person joins a gang is because of economic despair or deprivation in the area they live in. Gangs form as a way for their group to make money. Some ways gangs earn an income is by selling drugs, committing thefts, prostitution of women, and sometimes even killing others for money. Because of economic despair, gangs are usually found in rundown neighborhoods. When we think of rundown neighborhoods, we think of poor housing and small incomes for those living in the neighborhood. This is why gangs will do just about anything for money. If the community or neighborhood fails to provide a way to earn money, the gangs will have to find other ways to receive an income. Gangs provide the member a way out of economic despair and into the lifestyle of “fancy living.” Because of bad economic times, this may cause a gang member to have low self-esteem about themselves. A member might be an outcast at the school they attend and are not well liked even in their own home sometimes. Even their own peers might give them a hard time. The gang entices the possible member with the ability to receive power, respect, and money. Gangs form in order to provide the individual with low self-esteem a chance to build their self-esteem through the gang. The gangs reputation, interaction with gang members, accomplishments of the gang, and gaining power through the gang sends loads of confidence to the new member. This new confidence usually gives the newest member the feeling of invincibility. But, as we all know, no one today is invincible. The thought of