According to Pitts (2008), the UK and the USA have seen dramatic changes in the economy which have greatly affected many families residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. In particular, the BME community has seen an increase in their young males left redundant and stagnant at the bottom of the social class ladder and excluded from the values of society. In their response to their lack of status, respect and power with frustration, black youths have ostensibly resulted to anger and also the formation of alternative values that endorses and normalises gang membership and violence (Pitts, 2008). Likewise, the gang can be seen as a place for gang members to express their masculinity. Although the research on gangs and masculinity is limited in
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Within the gang, research in the UK and the USA suggest that young people claiming to be involved in gangs are more likely to participate in gang-related activities and more violent behaviours than individuals who do not (Bennett and Holloway, 2004; Bradshaw, 2005; Howell, 1998; RCMP, 2006; Sharp et al, 2006; Smith and Bradshaw, 2005; Thornberry et al, 2003; Youth Justice Board, 2007), especially when it is seen as an opportunity to portray masculinity (Moore, 1978; Stretesky and Pogrebin, 2007). Nonetheless, research claims that there are some similarities between youth gangs in the UK and the USA, such as the high rate of black-on-black violence, increase in girls cliques, selling and …show more content…
This is often portrayed in rap music videos and shared in social media to publicise a fake lifestyle when in reality, they may have no association with a gang (Patton, Eschmann and Butler, 2013). However, by publicising their associations (or a fake lifestyle), gang members are able to influence others to join and as a result, they are able to build their collective identity. This has led to law enforcement agencies in cities like New York, Chicago and Toronto using social media to investigate and solve gang-related crimes. For example, in 2012, 43 gang members in NYC gangs in Brownsville, Brooklyn were detained for participation in numerous fatal shootings because they bragged about the event on Twitter (Prokupecz et al.,
Within the gang, research in the UK and the USA suggest that young people claiming to be involved in gangs are more likely to participate in gang-related activities and more violent behaviours than individuals who do not (Bennett and Holloway, 2004; Bradshaw, 2005; Howell, 1998; RCMP, 2006; Sharp et al, 2006; Smith and Bradshaw, 2005; Thornberry et al, 2003; Youth Justice Board, 2007), especially when it is seen as an opportunity to portray masculinity (Moore, 1978; Stretesky and Pogrebin, 2007). Nonetheless, research claims that there are some similarities between youth gangs in the UK and the USA, such as the high rate of black-on-black violence, increase in girls cliques, selling and …show more content…
This is often portrayed in rap music videos and shared in social media to publicise a fake lifestyle when in reality, they may have no association with a gang (Patton, Eschmann and Butler, 2013). However, by publicising their associations (or a fake lifestyle), gang members are able to influence others to join and as a result, they are able to build their collective identity. This has led to law enforcement agencies in cities like New York, Chicago and Toronto using social media to investigate and solve gang-related crimes. For example, in 2012, 43 gang members in NYC gangs in Brownsville, Brooklyn were detained for participation in numerous fatal shootings because they bragged about the event on Twitter (Prokupecz et al.,