Young_Ladies_And_Gangs

Young Ladies And Gangs Why Do Female Youths Join Gangs' Female youths join street gangs on the basis of gender conflict, lack of family support and violence in their lives. Through adolescence young females have a much harder time than young males dealing with family, sexuality and the harsh reality of living in the urban ghetto. Young females who must endure these facets of life have little opportunity to succeed. Consequently, these young women turn to a replacement family, a place where they feel they are needed and loved and can escape reality, even if momentarily. This type of place is in the common street gang. Presently, inner city minorities are hopelessly discriminated and isolated from economic opportunity. Young females see society as having nothing to offer young minority women. Neglected communities with high crime and a lack of resources force young females to turn to others in the same situation for support. Thus, they develop an exaggerated sense of belonging and gain excitement lacking in their lives (Chesney-Lind 53). According to Thornberry there are three types of models that account for gang membership: selection model, social facilitation model and enhancement model. Female membership seems to fall into the selection model. The selection model gang, females, female, gangs, family, young, members, male, violence, themselves, liberation, independent, curry, youths, one, males, involvement, fathers, chesney-lind, urban, life, liberate, lack, gender, delinquency, women, way, turn, support, qtd, model, miller, lives, join, gain, escape