Gangs and Social Change
Gangs and Social Change, a piece by Mar´tin Sanchez-Jankowski, addresses the many pitfalls of gang research from the sociological perspective. By doing so, Jankowski illustrates the colorful history of gang culture and distinguishes the perceptions of collective behavior based from socioeconomic status. When Jankowski address segments regarding socio-economic status, there are a lot of parallels drawn to Greek life. Within the article he states, "the most obvious and important distinction between gangs and fraternities/sororities entails differential in economic assets" Jankowski goes onto compare similarities regarding brotherhood, security, and affiliations with illegal activity. He breaks down that the generalized perception of many Americans is due to socioeconomic perspective. So to enhance our empathy and our perspective of gang members, we should view collective behavior as individual with like minded ideals, instead on the generalized stereotype.
Youth and the Gang Life: Their Stories, in Their Words
The source Youths and the gang life: Their stories, in their words written by Emily Green, provides direct insight from young adults at the Oregon Youth Authority correctional facilities, who were all either gang members or deeply gang involved. The reader is then introduced to four different individuals under the aliases Luis, Trei, Josefina, and Marsel. Luis had many relatives who were gang members, was raised by his first generation Mexican grandmother, and then by his father after he had gotten out of prison. In eighth grade after quitting soccer Luis said he was lost and vulnerable, and by the time he was 16 and participating in group armed robberies he “didn't see any other paths he could take.” When asked about preventative and intervention measures Luis explained that he believes measure 11, mandatory minimum sentencing law, should be dismantled because of the way it locks in many first time offenders, and that “If they don’t hurt someone, they don’t deserve Measure 11 charges. There’s other ways out.”. Luis additionally elaborated that the way most schools have a zero tolerance policy is harmful being that gang involvement most typically starts in middle school, and rather than focusing on zero tolerance schools should aim to provide speakers and engaging preventative activities. The remaining perspectives provide many parallels to Luis’ story, being that during childhood they faced unsecure home lives and began their gang involvement beginning in their early teens. Marsel in particular mentioned that cartoons were at the root of his infatuation with gangs and that he felt as if he had been brainwashed and that it eventually led to an additional infatuation with guns. In regards to intervention, Trei mentioned that the youth too often go without role models, something of which community involvement could alleviate. Marsel mentions there is a real need for speakers who have made mistakes and faced the consequences of their actions. The source wraps itself up by providing what the young adults have in store to better themselves, their passions, and their overall future plans.
Through taking Green's piece into consideration, many parallels can be drawn out between what lead gang members to joining and those who join sororities and fraternities. In Green's source Trei emphasized that a big part of joining a gang stemmed from the fact that he did not have any role models growing up, so he sought out role models inside the gang he was affiliated with. In relation to sororities and fraternities, each new member is given a "big sister" or "big brother" who serves as a mentor and friend. Being that an individuals late teens are a very disorienting and vulnerable age it makes sense that having a mentor would be a motivator to joining either a gang or greek life. This similarities comes together to draw out the discrepancies present throughout society in the way that many individuals cherry pick based on prejudice. Ask yourself if you have ever felt stuck and needed advice? What resources did you have that may not be accessibly to everyone?
Through taking Green's piece into consideration, many parallels can be drawn out between what lead gang members to joining and those who join sororities and fraternities. In Green's source Trei emphasized that a big part of joining a gang stemmed from the fact that he did not have any role models growing up, so he sought out role models inside the gang he was affiliated with. In relation to sororities and fraternities, each new member is given a "big sister" or "big brother" who serves as a mentor and friend. Being that an individuals late teens are a very disorienting and vulnerable age it makes sense that having a mentor would be a motivator to joining either a gang or greek life. This similarities comes together to draw out the discrepancies present throughout society in the way that many individuals cherry pick based on prejudice. Ask yourself if you have ever felt stuck and needed advice? What resources did you have that may not be accessibly to everyone?
Gangs are Good for Society
Caspar Walsh argues within his article Gangs are Good for Society that gang is an integral part for the youth, college students in fraternities and sororities in particular, to grow up as well as to become a law-abiding member of society. From his point of view, gang is a synonym of tribe, so he believes it is good for society. He thinks that there is a misuse of the word gang. He considers the media to be behind the bad reputation for gang culture as the press has always linked gangs with violence, drugs, guns, and sexual misconduct. Walsh argues that the breakdown of teenage society isn't because of gangs; it is due to poor education, dysfunctional families, and no respect for the older generations. He indicates that a significant increase in youth crime is directly related to the rise of the population in recent decades, not mainly because of gangs. In the article, Walsh confirms that gangs are all about belonging to groups with fraternities and sororities formed under ethical and moral rules; they are not for fighting other gangs. If those rules are relying on respect for society, then there is nothing wrong with them. He provides evidence that supports his perspective that there are several organizations that work positively with gangs who are in fraternities and sororities and provide them with assistance during difficult times they can face in their lives as well as help them evolve into productive and responsible members of society. Young people, like college students, seek boundaries and the best way to find them is through gangs and in their social interactions with each other and the surrounding environment. Accordingly, this is a crucial part of growing up and becoming a law-abiding citizen.
LA Gangs
After reading multiple tabs about gang culture on the Los Angeles Police Department website, I was able to get a good idea of the dominant narrative of the topic. The police and gangs are like oil and water, they do not mix at all and the report given by the LAPD justifies that. On the website under, "Gang Awareness", the Los Angeles Police Department's definition of a gang is a group of individuals who may or may not claim control over a certain territory in the community and engage, either individually or collectively, in violent or other forms of illegal behavior. Under "Effects of Gang Involvement", LAPD says that gang involvement will cause terrible danger to the individual that is affiliated with the gang and his or her loved ones. It is said that non gang member friends are cast aside from a young gang member's life and all of their friends become gang members. Also, all levels of education are not allowed because it gets in the way of the gang's objective. Under "How Gangs Are Identified", it is said that tattoos are a common indicator because gang members are proud of their gang. In addition, it is said that people who are on the fringe of joining a gang will say that they are in a gang even if they are not and will claim that their friends are in gangs when they are also not. I personally don't understand how this has anything to do with identifying gangs. It also says that hispanic gang members usually wear white t-shirts with baggy jeans with split cuffs and a bandana around their heads and black gang members wear clothes associated with the color of their gang. There is also a subnote saying that gang members are trying to change their clothing to hide their affiliation to avoid trouble, which makes it seem as if everyone is supposed to be a gang member.
Greek Life has some of the same aspects when you think about it, minus the negative stigma behind it. Fraternities and sororities also wear clothing that signify which club they fraternity or sorority they belong to. Also, a person who is a pledge, a term for a person who is in the process of becoming a part of a fraternity or sorority, are people who will claim that they are in their club without really being a part of it because of the recognition.
Greek Life has some of the same aspects when you think about it, minus the negative stigma behind it. Fraternities and sororities also wear clothing that signify which club they fraternity or sorority they belong to. Also, a person who is a pledge, a term for a person who is in the process of becoming a part of a fraternity or sorority, are people who will claim that they are in their club without really being a part of it because of the recognition.