Gang Membership a Gang Involves

Gang Membership A gang involves persons who have a similar identity and have a common purpose. A gang as per the description is just an association of people. However, the word is so much associated with specific groups whose intentions and activities are criminal in nature (Cummings, 1993). Thus with time the definition has changed to a group of such individuals perpetrate crime.

There are different types of gangs, a delinquent youth gang, is a loosely prearranged group of young persons, usually juveniles, and/or young adults who participate in undesirable behavior frequently attract attention from authority. A traditionally turf-based gang, is loosely structured group that is usually committed to just preventing or protecting its status as a group. It is mainly associated with territories and is formed as a counter measure to an intruding rival gang. It can be made of juveniles or adults. It also may have identified signs.

The third type is known as gain-oriented gang and may be well organized or loose. It consists of mainly young adults or juveniles from age 15 years and sometimes adults. They are involved in criminal actions for economic gain (Marcovitz, 2010). They involve activities such as robbery, burglary or sale of banned substances such as drugs. The last main type of gang is violent gang, which consists of juveniles or adults and is for carrying out assault activities.

Most of its members usually are persons who have been involved in violence before joining the group, either as victims or perpetrators. From these different types of gangs, it is evident that most gang members are young persons, usually from age 15 years and above. In many societies, the males are the most persons associated with joining gangs (Marcovitz, 2010). However, the ladies are not exception. The females also form their own gangs or join up the male gangs as most are friends and sympathizers of the gang members.

However, most gangs are of young people, ranging from age 13 years to about thirty five years. Also, the gangs consist of members of the same age group, and as the age increases, female gang members' decrease in number. There are various reasons that contribute to these persons joining and forming gangs. Such factors range from simple reasons to complex (Cummings, 1993). The reasons are that a gang provides a sense of belonging.

This is especially where the young people feel that they do not get enough attention and support from their home and families. The gang becomes family to that person. Another reason is the need for money; most young people are jobless, or have no financial support from their families. Also, persons from poor backgrounds are prone to joining the gangs because of this reason. The gangs through its activities raise funds through illegal activities, which it uses to support its members.

Desire for protection especially in neighborhoods or schools is also another reason for joining gangs. It is easier for a person to join the gang than to remain alone vulnerable to abuse from the gangs (Marcovitz, 2010). Peer pressure also causes teens and kids to feel the need to fit in gangs. Peer pressure in the form of coercion, harassment or intimidation, may result to a person joining the gang. The desire to appear cool is also a major cause to many young people joining gangs.

The trends and signs and reputations associated with the gangs such as fashion, tattoos and class appear to appeal to the persons and hence attract them to join the gangs. The excitement of young a person to defy authority also causes many to want to join gangs. In addition, family history may also contribute to gangs. The family may have been involved in gangs over several generations. This type of gang pressure is hard to stop since the lifestyle of such people is defined by association with the gang (Marcovitz, 2010).

The race of individuals may cause the need to form gangs due to discrimination within the society. For the members of the gang, most members gain favors such as protection, a sense of belonging especially for those who come from families that do not support them. Also, for those with financial difficulties, gangs made for economic gain help them to survive. For gangs associated with family history and generations, provide the source of livelihood for the family. These are some of the benefits connected with gang membership for individuals.

However, the membership to a gang association has its repercussions. Gang membership poses many dangers and problems to the members and the society too (Decker & Van, 1996). The initiation process may not be safe. Activities such as tattooing may lead to transmission of diseases through the use of the same instrument for tattooing. The use of drugs associated with gangs may cause one permanent addiction.