The Problem and Review of Related Literature and Study: Students Engaging in Gangs

Chapter 1
The problem and Review of Related Literature and Study

Nowadays, most youth belong to gangs. Gang members treat each other like a family and plan their funerals in advanced. In a group there is always a common identifying signs, colors and symbols. Gangs have no good purpose. They are groups of violent youths who terrorize other members. Girls are attracted join a gang because of the respect they think they will acquire once people who they are going with. They also initiated in the same manner as the boys. A street gang is a three or more people; they share a unique or have identifiable nark symbols, (such a tattoos, wearing kind of certain styles of clothing, colors, graffiti, etc.,) Sometimes they claim a specific location or territory; they have an identifiable organization or hierarchy. Youth engage to this group because on their socio-economic background. In general terms they join for a sense of power, excitement, self-esteem and they believe the gang allows them to achieve a level of status that was impossible to attain outside of the gangs. Other reason why they involve in this set of people is they want to have power, friendship, brotherhood, security from gang violence. Feeling of belonging and being cared about and media glorification of a gang lifestyle. The important of the study is to provide information to the youth, to give an idea about what gang is, to know its advantages and disadvantages and to know the factors that affect students engaging gang.
Review on Related Literature Gangs are not a new problem, and they are not likely to disappear anytime soon. Drug use creates addicts who are not productive members of society. Drug dealers support the habits, and make a living in a highly illegal manner. When people feel a deep sense of belonging to gangs and not to a family, values and morals tent to decline. Lastly increased crime due to gang violence and other gang activity hurts everyone involved, including innocent bystanders. Their effects on society are long lasting and have negative impacts in communities across the country.

A gang is a group of people which shares an identity and a common purpose. On a lesser level, schoolyard gangs have what some people consider to be gang members in training, people who gravitate towards the gang lifestyle at an early age. People who want to see a reduction in gang violence and gang culture often try to keep an eye on the development of schoolyard gangs, and provide alternatives to young men and women who may feel bored, restless, or frustrated in the school environment to prevent them from joining street gangs as they mature. Members of street gangs may choose to identify themselves with nicknames, tattoos, specific slang, distinctive graffiti tags, or specific styles of dress. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-gang.htm The police’s definition of a gang is a group of individuals, juvenile and or adult, who associate on a continuous basis, form of allegiance for a common purpose and are involved in delinquent or criminal activity. This definition is simple and functional. The gang may range from a loose knit group of individuals with a leader or ruling council, gang colors, gang identifiers and a gang name.

And also, they have often establish distinctive, characteristic identifiers including graffiti tags colors, hand-signals, clothing, jewelry, hair styles, fingernails, slogans, signs such as the swastika, the noose, the cross, five-pointed and six-pointed stars, crowns and tridents, flags for example the Confederate flag, secret greetings, slurs, or code words and other group-specific symbols associated with the gang's common beliefs, rituals, and mythologies to define and differentiate themselves from rival groups and gangs. As an alternative language, hand-signals, symbols, and slurs in speech, graffiti, print, music, or other mediums communicate specific informational cues used to threaten, disparage, harass, intimidate, alarm, influence, or exact specific responses including obedience, submission, fear, or terror. Symbolism is important because it plays a part in impelling the terrorist to act and then in defining the targets of their actions. Displaying a gang sign, such as the noose, as a symbolic act can be construed as "… a threat to commit violence communicated with the intent to terrorize another, to cause evacuation of a building, or to cause serious public inconvenience. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang#Signs “Gang” is also refers to, any group of people who engage in socially disruptive or criminal behavior. They are usually territorial, often but not always of the same gender, and operate by creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in a community. The gang may choose a name, logo, specific color, or, method of dress used for purposes of identification for their own members and their counterparts. They will have some form of leadership and a method of operation and recruitment. Schools have become a breeding ground for gangs and this can have a tremendous negative impact on the learning environment. They should be taken seriously and dealt with swiftly. http://www.gangfighters.net/imagesplus/Parent%20Information.txt Different indications of Gang members: Gang member representing his/her membership by wearing a specific gang logo, particular colors of clothing, a specific brand name of clothing or clothing worn in a predefined manner in their particular group. This may also include hair styles, jewelry, or even the way a person stands, walks or folds arms and hands. Also, colors identify the gang member and show member pride and affiliation. Hand signals and gang slang are a means of communication. Symbols formed and flashed with the fingers, hands, and body have very specific meaning to the gang. The same goes for buzz words or phrases. Remember all of these may be area or geographic region specific and meanings may vary.

Development of Gangs and How do they Work:

Gangs first emerged in the United States in the late 1960's. The West Coast gang movement started in Compton, California, between two rival high schools which sported school colors of blue and red. These groups adopted the names "Crips" and "Bloods." The Bloods wore the color red to denote their gang affiliation and the Crips wore the color blue. They operated on the premise of threats, intimidation, and extortion. Their criminal activity began by taking lunch money from other students. As these gangs grew in size, they began competing for the same sources of revenue and territory, and it wasn't long before violence erupted. Guns soon became the weapons of choice because fights were not always fair and evenly matched. It is not against the law to be a gang member it is against school district policy to express intimidating gang behaviors on school district grounds. Students who confess to be gang members or those who are identified by school authorities through their behaviors as gang members are asked to sign a gang contract which specifies acceptable and unacceptable school behavior. Those found to be in violation of this contract are placed on a long-term suspension for their contract violations. The initiation process is different for each gang. In many cases the new recruit must be "jumped in." Being "jumped in" usually means the kid must fight one or several members of the gang and still be standing when the beating is over. Some gangs allow the recruit to choose which members they will fight, while others simply deliver a gang beating to the recruit, punching and kicking the youth for up to 10 minutes. Some gangs forego the beatings and require the youth to create a criminal act such as stealing a car. http://www.essortment.com/all/childrengangs_reky.htm Recruitment of Gang members: Most gangs are lead by one person or a small group of people: these are the ones that give the orders. The recruits, usually teens or young adults are the ones that carry out the crimes. You may think that because your kid or your student is a good kid that makes good grades, he would never get involved in a gang. In actuality, gangs use a variety of methods to lure kids into their group.
These are the different ways on how to recruit their members:
a. “Temptation”. At first the recruiters may try to lure kids in by offering them money, clothing, drugs or jewelry. They attempt to make the gang life look glamorous. The money and material possessions may be tempting, especially to those kids that have little of it at home. Sometimes the gangs use parties as a means to lure new members. They may give the kids drugs and promise that they can have all the drugs they want if they join the gang.
b. “Deceit and Misrepresentation”. Gangs sometimes resort to deceitful tactics to recruit their members. Knowing that the word "gang" gives a bad image, they may try to convince the youth that they are not a gang but are a club or group. They may target kids that seem to come from a bad home environment with little parental supervision. The teens are told that their parents don't care about them but the "club" will be their new family and love them unconditionally. Often, female gang members are used to lure new members in. She may claim that the gang takes care of her and protects her. This may sound enticing to girls from bad homes or that lives with fathers or step fathers with whom they don't get along with.
c. “Debt and Obligation”. Often, a gang member will do a favor for someone or loan them money, drugs or cigarettes and then later demand that they join the gang as a method of repayment. They will try to convince the teen that they owe the gang a debt of gratitude and it must be repaid.
d. “Threats and Coercion”. If all the friendlier methods fail, they may resort to threats or coercion to force the youth to join the gang. Gangs have been known to use threats, including threatening to harm the youth, their friends or family. They have also resorted to carrying out the threats. These tactics are most frequently used in larger gangs in large cities where gangs are abundant, however, they may be used by smaller gangs as well.
e. “Self Recruitment”. For whatever reasons, many teens go looking for a gang and ask to join. It could be due to the glamorous looking life of other gang members or it may be a method to make money. Many teens have joined gangs out of desperation. They need money quick and easily and the gang is the way to get it. Also, kids that use drugs may think that they will have easier access to drugs if they are in the gang. Kids that have a bad home life may feel that they can "escape" through the gang.
Gang membership structure: 1. Potentials or "Could-be's." These are youngsters who are getting close to an age where they might decide to join a gang, live in or close to an area where there are gangs, or have a family member who is involved with gangs. Potentials do not have to join gangs, they can choose alternatives and avoid gangs completely. 2. Claimers, Associates or "Wanna-be's." Average age 11-13 years old, but may vary. These young people are not officially members of the gang but they act, walk, talk, and claim to be from the gang. They may begin to dress in gang attire, hang around with the gang and become involved in some of its activities. 3. Regular Members. Average age 14-17 years old; however could be much older or younger. They are already initiated in to the gang. Tend to back up the hard-core gang members. If they survive long enough, they could become hard-core. 4. Hard-core. Comprise about 5 to 10% of the gang. They are in the gang the longest and frequently are in and out of jail, unemployed, and involved with drug distribution and use. Average age is early to mid-twenties; however some are older or younger. They are very influential in the gang.

Here are some warning signs that your child may be involved in a gang or in gang activities:
1. They may have new friends or stop hanging out with their old friends or they may not let you meet any of their friends.
2. They may start spending a lot of time away from home.
3. They may display a lack of interest in school or school related activities and their grades may drop.
4. They become difficult to deal with, argumentative.
5. They may start to use drugs or alcohol.
6. They may start to dress differently, wearing only one color or specific colors, refusing to wear a specific color (usually red or blue).
7. They may have themselves tattooed.
8. They may start to use nicknames or refer to their friends by nicknames instead of their real names.
9. They may get into trouble with the law.
10. They may have graffiti like artwork on their school books or folders.

The longer that a person remains in the gang, the less chance that they will get out. Gang members often end up in prison or end up being killed.

http://www.essortment.com/all/childrengangs_reky.htm

Reasons why teens joined Gang: Teenagers often struggle to define themselves and their place in the world. They may choose to associate with a certain group because its members share similar beliefs, attitudes or interests. However, teens also look to others to fulfill their basic needs for such things as companionship, understanding and emotional support. When these needs are not met sufficiently or at all by the teen's family, they become susceptible to joining gangs.
And also, they want to have their own: • Prestige or power • Protection/security from gang violence • Feeling of belonging and being cared about • Media glorification of the gang lifestyle • Experience to have battle w/ other group.
Three “R’s” of a gang culture:
(1) REPUTATION/REP. This is of critical concern to "gangbangers" (gang members). A rep extends not only to each individual, but to the gang as a whole. Upon interview, many gang members adorn their past gang activities in an attempt to impress their conversation partner. Gang members freely admit crimes and it has been my experience that most in fact does exaggerate their stories to enhance their feeling of power. This says that being "beaten down" until the leader calls for it to end. This action is meant to bond the members together as a family. Frequently, young gang members, whether hardcore or associate, will talk of fellowship and the feeling of sharing and belonging as their reason for joining a gang.
(2) RESPECT. This is something everyone wants and some gang members carry their desire for it to the extreme. Respect is wanted for not only the individual, but also for one's set or gang, family, territory, and various other things, real or perceived in the mind of the "gangbanger". (3) RETALIATION/REVENGE. A common occurrence is a confrontation between a gang set and single rival "gangbanger." Outnumbered, he departs the area and returns with his "homeboys" to complete the confrontation to keep his reputation intact. This may occur immediately or follow a delay for planning and obtaining the necessary equipment to complete the disciplinary strike

Significance: The existence of gangs is a threat to society. Gangs often involve crime, violence and drug use. Violence against other gangs over claims to property or threats to members are common. Drug use may co-exist with drug dealing and theft, as money is needed for drugs. As such, drug-related arrests are common. Gang members often raise their children in the gang's culture, and eventually these children become members themselves.
Prevention/Solution:
Prevention efforts can deter teens from joining gangs. The focus of such efforts is on an individual's sense of identity and belonging. The allure of gangs tends to be most persuasive among outsiders with low self-esteem and poor impulse control. Integrating teens into groups based on common interests provides a positive environment for self-development to occur. Teens should be encouraged to go to community centers and after-school activities which allow them to associate with other teens. Efforts to strengthen family relationships are also helpful, since teens tend to look outside their families when needs for such things as acceptance, belonging, recognition, protection and loyalty are not met at home. http://www.ehow.com/about_4572250_reasons-teenagers-join-gangs.html

Theoretical Framework

Malcolm Klein, the former director of the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Southern California and professor emeritus is one of the most well known gang researchers in the United States, and perhaps the world. This is one of the most cited books pertaining to gangs. Malcolm Klein and has been publishing on the topic of gangs, crime, and juvenile delinquency for over 30 years. He believes a gang may contain a core group, but many more are made up of fringe members, he asserts, and there is overlap among gangs. A large number of gangs have a criminal orientation, and their crimes have traditionally been against property. Gangs' major activity, according to the author, has been inactivity. But in recent times, the number of street gangs has grown enormously, he shows, with gangs now found in at least 800 American cities, their growth abetted by media attention and inept law enforcement officials. But as the gang culture has spread across the nation, the seriousness of its crimes has increased, with hundreds of homicides yearly in L.A. alone. Though written by a scholar who has studied street gangs for 30 years, this telling commentary is generally free of academic jargon.

Malcolm Klein studied youth engaging gangs in logical way of any denotable adolescence group of youngsters who: a. are generally perceived as a distinct aggregation by others in their neighborhood; b. recognize themselves as a denotable group(almost invariably with a group name); and c. Have been involved in a sufficient number of criminal incidents to call forth a consistent negative response from neighborhood residents.

Conceptual Paradigm

Statement of the Problem

The idea of this research is conclude the negative and positive Effects of the varsity students of Mindanao Christian Foundation College and Seminary in joining this activity. Also, the researchers sought the answers to the following questions:

1. What are the positive and negative effects of joining varsity? 2. Why did you join the varsity? 3. Who tempted you to join the varsity?.

Scope and Delimitation

This study was limited to All High School varsity students. The researchers focus on the causes and effects in students engaging Gang’s activity. This study was conducted in Mindanao Christian Foundation College and Seminary.

Significance of the study

The significance of the study is to know the students’ involvement in gang, the causes and effects in students engaging of this activity and the possible ways to help the students avoid this kind of activity.

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Causes and Effects in students engaging gangsterism

Effects

• Always in danger • Commit crimes • Learn to smoke, drink alcohol and take drugs • Student’s grade will be affected. • Engage to premarital sex.

Causes

• Prestige or Power • Friendship and brotherhood. • Protection/security from gang violence. • Feeling of belonging and being cared about. • Media glorification of the gang lifestyle.

Fourth Year Curie Students of Mindanao Christian Foundation College and Seminary