Reasons Why Young People Join Gangs

A member of the United States House of Representatives, David Reichert, said it best when he said, “gang violence in America is not a sudden problem. It has been a part of urban life for years, offering an aggressive definition and identity to those seeking a place to belong in the chaos of large metropolitan areas” (“Dave Reichert Quotes”). Gang membership and gang-related crimes have been around since as early as 1783 on the United States’ East coast; however, youth affiliation with gangs was not commonly seen until the 1970s, and is only growing to a worse, more problematic issue (Franzese, 2006, p. 116). Throughout North Carolina, several gangs are found in nearly every county. Wake County, considered one of the best places to live in America, …show more content…
Teenagers find the support and companionship from other gang members that may not find at home, which can be enough, alone (“Why Young People Join Gangs”). With support and companionship comes the feeling of importance and belonging. In some cases, youth can get wrapped up in gangs that they have relatives or close family members within the gang – adding to their feeling as though the gang is where they belong. Peer pressure is another force that can drive an individual to join a gang. During the years of adolescence, teenagers want to fit in. If an individual has a friend who is affiliated or is a member of a gang, it is more likely he or she will also attempt to join or become affiliated with that gang (“Gang Alternatives Program”). Becoming part of gang can give youth the ability to attain a level of status that may not otherwise be attained being an ordinary member of society. The individual will begin developing an identity that relates him or her to that gang, which will then have him or her gaining recognition and respect from other gang members (“Why Young People Turn To Gangs”). The accessibility to guns and/or other weapons is always a plus when it comes to being part of a gang. The feeling of being protected, knowing there is another person [gang member] always watching his or her back can be calming, especially if he or she knows they are protected while …show more content…
As their brains are developing, teens want to exercise their freedom, generally by doing things they are told not to do (Davis). As teens grow older and begin having more freedom, it is hard for parents and guardians to know what their teens are really doing when they are away from home. The most common signs that a teen may be part of a gang include: a sudden decline in school performance, rebellious behavior at school and home, staying out late and breaking curfew, having large, unexplainable sums of money, possession of expensive items that cannot be explained, and sudden use or drug experimentation (“Pre-teens and Gangs: Telltale Signs”). If a teenager feels as though he or she are intimidating, he or she will feel that they can do what he or she wants. Since most gang activity happens during the evening hours, it is common that a teen will break curfew so he or she can be part of gang activities. Large sums of money and expensive items that cannot be accounted for is a big sign of gang membership or gang-related activity; the money and items can come from robberies, stealing, or drug related activity (“Pre-teens and Gangs: Telltale Signs”). The oldest, yet still common sign of gang membership is clothing. Most gangs associate with only one or very few other colors. Bandanas tied around the head, the neck, or covering the face is the most typical representation of a