Socioeconomics Of Gangs Research Paper

Traditional Socioeconomics of Joining Gangs and the Relation of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
By: Kimberly Miller
Gang Activities and Drug Operation-2

There have been many theoretical explanations of why delinquents and adolescence, youth and other people might join gangs. Members of gangs have been questioned on why they would want to join a gang and most of them come up with socioeconomic factors and some say the attraction to street gangs are a rush. There are many different socioeconomic factors in their decision or choice to join a street gang. There have also been many different types of experts, researchers, doctors, sociologists, and psychologists all have their own theories and opinions about the socioeconomic factors
for joining a street gang. Psychologist Abraham Maslow was one of the theorist to give some explanation of the socioeconomic factors for joining a gang through the pyramid called “Maslows Hierarchy of Needs.” In this paper I will be explaining in detail the traditional socioeconomic factors that push individuals into joining gangs and the relation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs has to the Traditional Socioeconomic factors.
There are many traditional socioeconomic factors in an individual’s decision or choice to join a gang and these factors are as followed: “the Shifting Labor Market; the development of an underclass (which as traditional roots); poverty and the feminization of poverty; the breakdown of a nuclear family; the lack of education; and the acceptance, protection, and survival.” (Delaney, 2013) Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is divided into 5 levels and they are as follows: 1).
Physiological, 2). Safety, 3). Love/ Belongingness, 4). Esteem, and 5). Self- Actualization. Maslow’s 5 motivations are needed and when the basic needs not met then it is said to be a motivator for individuals. The first 3 layers should be met by parents, family, guides and mentors around the individuals and if the first level is not met and satisfied hen a person cannot progress on to the next level or to the highest level which is self- actualization. Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs and the Traditional Socioeconomic factors can be applied to one another because of the factors for people joining gangs and also because they are missing basic needs in the environments around
them.
The first socioeconomic factor is the Shifting Labor Market.
The shifting labor market is the securities main motivation for any and all action that are done and being done. It is said that the best economics mean for accomplishing security is because it allows one to live life free of daily violence, murder, gang activities, and also mayhem. This is also a very important point due to gang members often coming from lower socioeconomic statuses. The main concern with the effects of economics within gangs is job opportunities in the U.S. today basic job skills can’t be assured to give one stability to make a decent lifestyle for themselves; due to the shifting labor market in the marketing to the services of employment. Technology of today’s times has taken over so many job opportunities away from manufacture workers. In 2009, around 1.6 million workers lost manufacturing jobs. In 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were less than 12 million jobs in manufacturing. There are many more jobs now in the service economy now because of the shift labor market, but, the problem is that they require higher levels of education; in which, causes lower-class individuals to not be able to apply and then in return loose out on financial stability and success. The shifting labor market has shown signs of this change for many years. Some people changed with the labor market and got themselves prepared for the postindustrial society and other people did not do as
good preparing for the changes for various reasons. This caused many problems and disadvantages to the lower class, such as; inequality, higher unemployment rates, homelessness, and poverty. Abraham Maslow’s level of Hierarchy of Needs is in relation to this topic because it affects the safety and the psychological needs to be met. If there is no stable employment, then the individual’s basic needs for food, shelter, money, are not met and that puts them living in poverty in unsafe neighborhoods, no health care, and other harmful surroundings within their environments. It also affects a person’s self esteem, confidence, respect for and by others. This is referring to the security, esteem, and psychological levels because “safety, protection, freedom from fear, basic needs, self confidence and esteem is found in structured family surrounded environment.” (Delaney, 2014) This applies to the shifting labor market due to the fact, if more people had steady employment then they could would be able to have security, confidence, respect for and by others, basic needs all met and poverty would reduce in numbers and more people would make it to the self-actualization level in Maslow’s pyramid.
The second factor in the Traditional Socioeconomic factor is Social Stratification and the underclass stratification has been described by sociologist as “the social layers found in society (upper-class, middle-class, and lower social class) and it has been said all societies are stratified by classes. One of the most critical aspects of social stratification is “with rank cos privileges.” Social stratification is defined by sociologists as “a system of ranking members of the social system into levels with different of unequal evaluations” (Delaney, 2014) This reveals social inequality patterns that are found within a society itself. When classifying people through the classification system, it can lead to the development of socioeconomic classes. The social class is described by sociologist as “a broad group of people with common economic, cultural, or political statuses.” (Delaney, 2014) There are 3 different major dimensions of stratification in most societies which are the “social prestige (what other people think of you); political power (the ability to make or influence decisions that have positive effects in a segment of society); and economics (income and wealth).” (Delaney, 2014) When applying this factor of stratification to gangs, it is said most gang members are from lower SES groupings that have lower social prestiges and very little political powers. Since losing numerous manufacturing jobs has caused many inner-city people unable to gain employment opportunities. The underclass are usually poor and live where poverty rates exceeds 40%. These people tend to be poorly educated; unskilled in economic markets; been in poverty for generation; dependent on walfare; and often have little chances of beating the poverty cycle. An “underclass” is recognized as the number of grouping in certain poor urban neighborhoods. In 2008, “77.2% of the jobs on the market were in the service economy.” (Delaney, 2014) For the inner-city adolescents they often realize that there are very few legitimate jobs available and they are living in the reality of poverty within their surroundings, so, the joining a gang is often times the only possible opportunity for the to get free. This then becomes the reality of hopelessness with the underclass causing people to never reach the self actualization level of Maslow’s pyramid. I believe that this focus on level 2 and level 3 of the Maslows pyramid (safety) and (esteem); because without gainful employment, these families cannot afford to move out of poverty stricken areas, provide the family with security for safety because of the environment surrounding them in society. It also affects the respect and opinions on how you view other and others view you.
The third factor in the Traditional Socioeconomic section is poverty and the feminization of poverty. Poverty has been described as low income and also a variety of key forms of human attributes that are associated with poverty. These attributes include; “poor general health from exposure to personal and environmental health risk; people who are less nourished; no household savings; lower learning abilities; reduced productivity and diminished quality of life. When people live life in poverty it does compromise the individual’s ability for a decent life and any hope of reaching level 5 of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Self Actualiztion). In 2010, there were around 1.372 billion individuals around the world that are living in constant poverty according to the World Bank. When living in poverty the problem affects almost every single basic need, which, then makes self actualization the last thing on their minds. Around the world and in the U.S. people who live in poverty are usually, “malnourished, refugees, homeless or have inadequate shelter; no health coverage, home and neighborhoods have little or no sanitation or clean water supplies, are usually illiterate, and have no access to educational opportunities, energy supplies, and often unemployed or underemployed.” (Delaney, 2014)
Many youth and adults who grow up in poverty stricken area often find the most unconventional ways make money. Schools in these neighborhoods usually have higher crime and drug rates, lack of interest and readiness to learn, and the school has hard times finding higher qualified faculty. The parents often times find it hard to find the time to help and be involved with the child’s homework and projects. Poverty can cause major harm to adolescents who are already on a down-ward spiral, human suffering, and stunts human potential. There are statics showing that poverty is not a leading factor for individuals making the decision to join the gangs.
In the United States the fastest form of family is the single parented family; which most are single parented families headed by women. Many single parented family live in neighborhoods of similar economic poor families. This becomes a high probability for their children to join gangs. Many of the gang members on the streets come from single parented families that were single female parents. It has been said that young males seek to gangs to find a male role model and presence that is missing in their lives. Many poorer single parents work more than one job to make ends meet and often leaving their child unattended for many hours a day. Feminization of poverty has been described by sociologist as “a huge number of women living in poverty.” (Delaney, 2014) Divorce and children born out of wedlock are major contributing factors when it come’s to poverty in single parented families headed by females. The females living in the poorest conditions come’s from living in poverty for generation and when they have children they pretty much guaranteed their spot in poverty stricken lives.
“The socioeconomic effects on the children who were raised by a single parent, especially those headed by single parents, inner-city environments can often lead to devastating issues with neglect and abuse as ending results.” (Delaney, 2014) This is a contributing factor to youth turning to gangs. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Level one and 2 the psychological and safety factors are the ones in relation poverty because without the basic needs of stable employment causes families and individuals to go into and stay in a poverty stricken area. It also causes many harmful situations to both adults and children, which can lead to many health issues or even death. People have to have their basic needs met or they will continue to live in poverty and their basic needs will not be met.. This in return is up to the parents to do from the birth of the child to the adulthood according to Maslow.
The formal education process involves training and developing people knowledge, skills, intellectual,and characteristics in structured and certified programs” (Delaney, 2014) “The value of a formal education is not only the knowledge one gains ,but the provisions of credentials ( e. g., diplomas, certificates, security clearances) that are needed in a technologically advanced society characteristic of the growing service industry.” (Delaney, 2014) Children and youth who are not performing well in school or just don’t like school are more likely to be involving themselves in delinquent behaviors. There are some environments in school houses that are not very conducive in the learning process. There are some structures where children/youth are being labeled and somewhat bullied by their teachers and administrators of the school. When the child is having issues in the classroom with learning material it is often times harder to give them the motivation and guidance to push forward and continue with their education. “Many gangs have reported that going to school felt like a form of incarceration.” (Delaney, 2013) There were 3 specific factors that were found by Dishion, Nelson, and Ysani (2005) for predicting whether school children turn to gangs. The first one is the child 's academic grades; the second one is reported of antisocial behaviors; and the third and final one is relationships with peers. They also believe that school houses are the breeding grounds for street gangs and also for new gangs to be formed by peers and other existing gangs. This is why students in school do not feel like school houses are safe anymore and become accepted to the idea of joining and belonging to these street gangs. Most kids join gangs for the fact they are provided with acceptance, survival, and protections. (Delaney, 2013) Maslows Hierarchy of Needs level 3 and 4 Love/Belongingness and Esteem are the ones I would say best relate to the role of education because in school if a child is feeling like he is not wanted or appreciated for who they are then they tend to act out to get the acceptance and friendships they are seeking and when they don’t find it then they will go find it another source which is most like going to a gang.
In this particular section it is said that people turn to gangs for the acceptance, survival, and protection. Youth and adolescence who have been or are experiencing the feeling of alienation and a sense of powerlessness coming from their environmental environments seek out to find acceptance in gangs.. When youth and adults often face issues in school and discrimination by society and gangs have open the door and provide a way out for them , so, they won’t have to feel this way anymore. The reason behind this is because gangs have their own form of sub-culture; such as, the way they are dressed, their mannerism, communication, and behaviors. The communication is often called “slanging.” In today’s society you often hear the word “Swag”by both gang and non gang members. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs I think that levels 4 and 5 fit in relation to this traditional socioeconomic factor because people want and need to be accepted and respected by others. I also believe that everyone want to have friends and family in their lives and when they don’t have it makes it a lot harder for that person to have high self esteem and confidence.
As we can tell, here are many factors in the traditional socioeconomic strategies that have relation to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Many have to deal with levels one –four, but, the levels of one –three have to be first met with the parents of children at birth until adulthood. There is not any way to get to level five of the pyramids by Maslow without completing the first phases of acceptance and stability in our own personal needs. We have to make sure our families and ourselves are taken care of to not have to to continue to have stuggling families.

References

Delaney, Tim (2014) American Street Gang (2nd Ed.) Pearson Custom Learning; Upper Saddle River, New Jersey