Gang Violence Analysis

Unlike other societal trauma, such as domestic violence or human trafficking, with gang violence it is a little bit more difficult to distinguish a singular perpetrator. Typically, there is an established hierarchy between victim and perpetrator. Perpetrators assert a sense of superiority over their victims. In regards to gang violence, those engaging in violent acts are almost identical in socioeconomic and cultural factors to their victims. The true difference between victim and perpetrator is matter of choice. Like their victims, perpetrators face poverty, lack of opportunity, and oppression. However, perpetrators choose to accomplish their goals and attempt to regain control over their situation by instilling fear in community members.
The neighborhood and communities that are the highest risk for gang violence are typically low-income, urban areas. Chicago, as shown in the BBC Documentary, is exemplary of the neighborhood faced with community violence.
Poverty is rampant in these areas. Many have the philosophy that those suffering economically are simply not working hard enough or can simply leave their circumstance. The problem with poverty is its cyclical nature. Those in low-income areas typically have poor-quality educations and a lack of quality job opportunities. Without high-paying jobs and little education, individuals are unable to “rise” above their poverty. Stagnancy is inevitable, unless success and authority is achieve through illegal means. As mentioned previously, a person either becomes a victim of their environment or the perpetrator that support the continuance of violence.
In One Square Mile and the BBC Chicago Documentary, the prevalence of fire arms was noted in the communities.
One interviewee in Chicago even went on to mention bringing a gun to a beach. There are so many structural, historical, and societal factors that play into gang and community violence. However, it would being doing the topic a disservice to sway away from the issue. Perhaps, violence would still be existent, but there seems to appear to be a correlation between accessibility to guns and the rise of murders by gang members. Though the commonness of guns in low socioeconomic areas is not the main issue, the problem is worth
noting.
From a trauma point of view, gang violence is complex issue. The violence documented in the films were not isolated events, such as 9/11. The communities depicted ongoing violence and the subsequent victimization. As a result, the community as also struggles with the aftermath of trauma. When facing trauma, individuals experience feelings of tension and numbing. As seen in Chile and Chicago, large populations of people abuse drugs or alcohol. The Chicago interviewee went on to explain that was the only way people could possibly cope with their circumstance. The community, like individuals, is constantly in a state of arousal, fearing the next act of violence.
Without the means to escape, victims of community violence are essentially held captive. Many find it difficulty with the concept of captivity; they view it strictly as imprisonment. The word typically conjures locks and steel bars. However, captivity is much broader in the context of trauma. Individuals are confined to community violence due to inability to leave; they are imprisonment by their oppression and lack of opportunity.
I have always had fairly liberal views in regards to communities faced with poverty and violence.
I believe that federally-supported social programs are essential for the advancement of low socioeconomic communities; I have never felt that individuals should simply pull themselves out of poverty. Both my maternal and paternal grandparents were housed in federal housing during childhood in Cleveland, Ohio. Luckily with that federal assistance, my grandparents were able to become successful blue collars workers in adulthood. Consequently, both my parents were able to attend college. With my family background, I understood the cyclical nature of poverty and feel that the governmental support was one of the main reasons that ended. That being said, however, I still was enlightened by the level of poverty experienced domestically and globally, as well as the brutality of community violence. The shots around the communities showing the places Chilean children slept was especially eye-opening. I have a deeper appreciation for my circumstance and certainly puts my daily worries into
perspective.