Why Some Youths Join Gangs And Others Do Not

Introduction

The conflicting decision whether to join a gang or not join a gang can be a life altering decision. There are several reasons why people decide to become a gang member. The reasons can range from the need to be loved or wanting the alleged flashy life that comes with being a gang member. To the contrary, there are individuals that decide against the gang life despite their gang infested environment. Some people are faced with the daily challenges of saying no to the membership of violent gangs. Whether the decision is made to join or not join a gang, there are serious consequences involved either way. The differential opportunity theory developed by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin, develop ideas as to the causes of why individuals may join gangs. This theory aids in the understanding of how low-income environments play a part in gang membership.

Literature Review

The following literature review discusses the several reasons why individuals may or may not join gangs. The different literature describes several different reasons for joining a gang; therefore the most important reasons were selected. There were some discrepancies with the reasons for not joining a gang. Therefore, giving in-depth details would be difficult since sources were conflicted on their studies.

After all, to stay in conformity with the criteria's of the research paper, which is to explain the reasons a person may or may not join a gang, discussions related to reasons why people may not join a gang were expanded from the sources for a better understanding. Reasons for joining a gangThere are many contributing factors for why the youth join gangs. Some researchers contend that the "underclass" status of minority youth serves to push them into gangs (Rizzo, 2003). Cloward and Ohlin differential opportunity theory suggest that gang involved can be contributed to criminal subcultures. Low-income neighborhoods are typically the grounds where gangs are developed. Growing up in a poor environment can encourage a child to make bad decisions. Not having daily sources of food, the proper clothing or living in filth, will make a person thrive for better. Being offered to join a gang can help resolve some of those issues. Certain gangs will take care of all of those needs, which become enticing for a child that doesn’t have much.

Therefore, your environment plays a big part in whether a person is willing to join a gang or not. Another reason why people decide to join gangs is for protection. In socioeconomic challenged neighborhoods and areas with high crime rates, teens often join gangs in order to survive (Lohmann, 2010). Growing up in poverty creates an environment where individuals will do anything to survive. Sometimes that includes robbing, stealing, and sometimes killing for whatever you feel you may need. Joining a gang can give you protection and backing from the dangers of criminal activities. Once an individual receives that protection from joining a gang, now that individual usually starts inflicting the same criminal behavior upon others. Adolescent members of criminal gangs, like adult criminals in the neighborhood, are involved in extortion, fraud, theft, and other activities that yield illegal income (Adler, Laufer, & Mueller, 2013). Peer pressure is also a huge factor for individuals choosing to join gangs.

The pressures of joining a gang can come heavily as a teenager. Peer pressure is a driving force behind gang membership in affluent areas (Grabianowski, 2006). Teens may possibly witness their friends being a part of a gang, so those same friends start to highlight the luxuries of being in a gang. Delinquent subcultures are also a contributing factor that influences teenagers to join gangs because of peer pressure.

Reasons for not joining a gang

On the other hand, there are reasons people decide not to join a gang. Although it might be difficult to resist joining a gang in heavy gang areas, some are able to disassociate their selves. Knowing the possible end result to joining gangs, which can be either death or jail help deter some youth from gangs. Although peer pressure is prevalent with teenagers, many are able to overcome the pressure from their peers. Avoiding those friends associated with bad behavior or gangs help teenagers stray away from the gang life. Some teens are terrified of the dangers related to being in a gang, which motivates them to not join.

Interview

I had the pleasure of interviewing an alleged former member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS) 13 also known as MS-13 gang. Now 45 years old, Luis Ramirez-Vasquez openly discussed his past experiences as a gang member. Luis came to the United States at the age of six and was raised in California by a friend of his family. Unfortunately, Luis had no blood relatives in the United States; however the Flores family made him a part of their family.

During the interview, there was a slight language barrier; therefore some questions weren’t fully answered. Me: What made you join a gang? Luis: No choice. When I came to USA that was my family. I didn’t think it was a gang, just family. Me: When did you realize you were a part of a gang? Luis: When I was 10 years old. Me: What happened?Luis: I don’t wanna say. Bad, bad things. Me: If you’re comfortable talking about it, please tell me some of the things you loved and hated about being associated with a gang? Luis: I loved being with my family. I didn’t fear anything. I knew my family would take care of any problems. Because I’m human being, certain things I’ve saw and done started to make me feel sad. I didn’t like it anymore but I didn’t know how to say it. Me: When did you know you wanted to disassociate yourself from the gang?Luis: For a reason, I had to move to West Virginia when I was nineteen years old. I felt like I was out of USA. Everything was so different. I lived in the house of a white family and did work at their house. Me: How did you feel being away from your family? Luis: I missed them. I knew I would have a better life in West Virginia. I’ve never been back. I’ve had no problems since I left. Two years later, I found myself in Maryland. I met new friends and had a family. No more bad things. Me: What would you tell someone that told you they want to join a gang?Luis: I say no, don’t do it. I work hard every day for my family. No bad, just work.

If I didn’t leave, I wouldn’t live. I live now. I’m happy. No more bad stuff. Me: Thank you so much for speaking with me. Luis and I relationship started with him doing home improvements on my home. It developed into a friendship over several years. Although during the interview, there were some things I was unable to interpret, Luis opened up about many things he asked me not to share. Looking at Luis today, a person would never know he was associated with an infamous gang such as MS-13. He hides his tattoos very well and makes every attempt to forget about the bad of his past. Luis is a true inspiration to everyone who’s battling being in a gang. He’s living proof that you can overcome your past and be successful in your future. With great pleasure, I was granted the opportunity to interview one of my friends. Growing up in area where gangs were a way of life back then and even now. Charles grew up in the south side of Chicago in the mid 1990’s as a teenager. Charles’s father, uncle, and cousins were all affiliated with a popular gang in Chicago. Charles asked that I not use his last name nor use the name of the gang.

Charles grew up around the gang life since he was a baby. During this interview, Charles detailed moments he experienced to ensure he wasn’t going to be another gang member. Me: Surrounded with the pressures of joining a gang, how did you overcome the pressures? Charles: I saw things no kid at 5 years old should ever experience. I was never intrigued by the things I witnessed, but more scared. Now at 36, I still can clearly remember the things I saw at the age of 5. Those things are truly damaging to a kid. I never wanted to intentionally cause harm to someone else. Me: You mentioned some of the male leaders in your family being gang affiliated. How were you not automatically associated with the gang? Charles: I always made it clear that I didn’t like the things I witnessed. Although fearful, I never let it be known that I was scared. I had a demeanor that was hard, fearless, and head strong. I wanted to be my own person and not follow the footsteps of my dad, uncles, and cousins. Even the majority of my friends were in a gang. Me: That had to be hard coming up, fighting to do the right thing? Charles: It’s so easy to do the wrong thing and hard to stay committed to do the right thing. I can honestly say, what saved me was the name associated with my father. People knew not to really mess with me. So when dudes from other gangs would approach me, all I had to say was my father’s name. I heard nothing else from them. The biggest battle for me was disappointing my dad. I guess my dad felt disrespected that I didn’t want to be like him. However, I would tell him I just wanted better for myself. I guess back then I was more of an activist for black men. Me: How so? Charles: I was always preaching about the positive sides of working, being role models, and stopping the senseless killings. I’m sure people would only listen because of who my dad was. Didn’t matter to me why they listened but that they were listening and I could save a life.

Ultimately, I didn’t join a gang because I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do. Black on black crime made me angry. I wanted to be an advocate for those that felt forced to be in a gang. I wanted to show them that there were other options. Now it’s not just as easy as saying no. I had it easier because of my dad but others have lost their lives for saying no. I stood my ground and realized I had to move away in order to really separate myself from that lifestyle. Me: Thank you for talking with me and thank you for being such a great role model. Charles and I met back in 2002, at Wendy’s restaurant, while he was assigned to Fort Myer, VA Army base. Charles felt like in order for him to get a better life, he had to join the Army. Charles was able to accomplish a very brave thing in saying no to gang life. He shared some very grueling things he witnessed as a child and a teenager. I assured him I wouldn’t expose those details in the interview. Although it wasn’t an easy road for Charles to say no to join a gang, he was able to overcome the peer pressure from his family and friends. Charles’s brave decision is probably the reason why he was able to explore the world while being in the military. Understanding the consequences of joining a gang, Charles made the wisest decision for a better life. He’s a true inspiration for young men and women with the conflicting decision to join or not to join a gang. Charles is a living witness that your environment doesn’t have to dictate your future.

In conclusion, there are various reasons why people join gangs. These reasons can be related to poverty, protection and peer pressure. Cloward and Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory associates low-income areas with one of the reasons. Both interviews were very powerful and bone chilling. I learned many reasons why people might join gangs and many reasons why people will decide not to join. With both Luis and Charles sharing their personal experiences, it allowed me better insight into the world of gang lifestyles. They both shared the violent, drug dealing, and gruesome activities associated with gangs. However, they also shared the loving, family, and protective side of being associated with a gang. These two men endured many unfortunate events as children and both took different path as it relates to gangs. One man being forced into a gang because of family and the other being adamant about not joining because of family is the tale of two sides. Fortunately, both tales ended positively and moving away from their environment was the start of their new lives.