Research Paper: Girls In Gangs

5 Pages 1194 Words

Girls In Gangs
A woman’s family life and social environment can lead herself to look for the
acceptance and protection of a gang. In this gang, comprised of young, insecure
females, criminal activity and gang related symbols are a source of fulfillment in the
womens’ empty lives. What influences a young woman to join the ranks of a gang
differs from every female. The one thing these girls have in common though, is
when choosing to enter the gang life the girls are at very young age and fall into a
life of crime and mourning. The need for fulfillment in young girls’ lives are growing
because all-female gangs, found mostly in large urban areas, spread to smaller
towns. The main attempt in understanding women gangs or women in gangs is
understanding what influenced the girls into these groups, at what majority level
were the girls at when joining the gang, the lifestyle lead in a gang, how life
differed after a gang, and the future of gangs in the United States.

Factors in a child’s home determine the outcome of the child. The female
gang-affiliated members come from the same dysfunctional environment and
harmful types of homes like the male members, however the girls were much more
expressive (Moore). The main part missing from each females life is the role of a
father figure. The ladies interviewed from Voices From The Street, two were
surrounded by a family member or members with a drug habit. Brandy England and
Melissa Sabater were the two girls confronted with this problem. Brandy was left
with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s drug problem got out of control. Melissa
lived in a home where two of her three brothers did drugs, which one of the two
died of a crack cocaine overdose (Atkin). Harassment is another major factor that
causes females to turn to gangs. Elena Rojas at twelve-years old was constantly
beat up by her sixteen year old boyfriend, Elena seeked the refuge of an all girl
gang c...