Since a young age I have always asked myself questions, these questions would always relate to groups that are formed by people mainly young people (gangs). Finding these things out has slighlty changed my perspective on Gangs. I have always thought of gangs as a waste of time, bunch of idiots , dangerous people who like to fight steal kill and take drugs and so forth. However after researching quite a few articles, I have found that it all has to do with their backgrounds. For example the gang member may have come from a violent family, or nieghborhood ect. It has taken me time to realise that it is not the fault of the actual indivuals themselves but of those of whom they may have grewn up with or may have been guardianed by. Personally I think everything should start in the home. And by saying this I meanParents should take responsability and teach their children from when they are young or even try to get involved with their child as much as possible. For instance help them with their homework, ask them who their friends are and get acquainted with them, basically paying attention to them giving them what they need. From a certain article:
Poverty: For many inner-city kids, gangs are one of the only available ways of making money. It's no coincidence that gangs surged in the 1980s as the number of decent jobs in the inner city declined.
Emotional Needs: A number of factors -- including overcrowding, single-parent (or even no-parent) families, and poverty -- make it hard for many young people to have normal ego needs met, including the need for status, excitement, and power. Gangs -- and gang rituals and camaraderie -- satisfy those needs, at least in part.
Protection: In many ways, gangs are the human equivalent of the "safety in numbers" herd-survival mechanism seen throughout nature. But gangs do more than just protect members; they drive up the ante so high that challenges to members are reduced.
Social Support: Gangs are social structures in places where there are few competitors. And even though they're based more on tribal values than family values, the feeling of belonging that gangs provide is one of the strongest ties binding members. Also, gangs are so entrenched in some areas that membership is now a family tradition. Kids join the set or posse or crew that their father or uncles or cousins joined before them.
Therefore examples should be set by our elders in society mostly by our parents.
What do you think ??? I would love to get your feedback !! THANKYOU
References List :
Herald.NZ.( April 27 2008) Melee outside party leads to teen's death art.Retreived april 29,2008,from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=124&objectid=10506470
Gangs.(n.d).Retrieved may 1, 2008, from http://www.gainesvillepd.org/gangs.htm
Herald.NZ.( May 6 2008) Gang sting 'good day for community'.Retreieved May 10, 2008,from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10508177
Herald.NZ.(May 12 2008).Huge effort needed to combat gangs and drugs PM art.Retreived May 13, 2008, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10509542
Parker.J. (June 2007) Street Gangs: The view from the streets.Retreived May 9, 2008, from http://www.doitnow.org/pages/178.html
Samhsa.(n.d). Helping your kids street clear of gangs.Retreived May 13 2008, from http://www.necasaonline.org/images/customer-files/Violence/Helping-Your-Kids-Steer-Clear-of-Gangs-060105.pdf
Influence of gangs.(n.d). Retreived May 10, 2008, from http://www.term-papers.us/ts/hc/svn108.shtml
Mcshan.Jeff. (April 1 2008). Murder, pregnant women's stabbing linked toEast houston Gang art . Retreived May 5, 2008, from http://www.khou.com/news/local/crime/stories/khou080401_ac_gangactivity.1f39cea3.html
Youtube.(n.d). Ima gangsta. Retreived May 10 2008, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeBhKkbkAWU
Q&A/Articles. (n.d). Alot of my Friends are in gangs . Retreieved May 5 2008, from http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_advice&ID_Advice=2067
