The Major theoretical perspectives in Sociology show how individuals interact with society and its effect on their individual and group perspectives. Sociologists use these perspectives as an infrastructure to comprehend the behavior and characteristics of human behavior in society. Furthermore, the conflict of variances and the struggle to fit in often leads to symbolic interactive deviant behavior. In fact, Basirico, Cashion, & Eshleman’s (2014), define symbolic interaction theory as the social theory stressing interactions between people and the social processes that occur within the individual that are made possible by language and internalized meaning” (p. 44). When people in society feel threatened, rejected or alienated, they interact …show more content…
Moreover, with the perception of being victimized and deprived of necessities, made the influential behavior from other disgruntled gang members in agreement with their views, too receptive. The article shows how statistics prove that gang violence evolves around similar geographical areas and that these crimes are becoming more violent. Linda Staaf, head of National Police intelligence expresses the concept of control from this area by saying, “In the past, they would shoot people in the leg to intimidate, whereas now, they aim for the head – to kill” (Hale, 2017, par 6.) Hale (2017) that social structure and culture are responsible for racial discrimination, formal and …show more content…
In fact, according to Basirico, Cashion, & Eshleman’s (2014), argued “that all history was marked by economic determinism—the idea that all change, social conditions, and even society itself are based on economic factors—and that economic inequality results in class struggles” (p. 28-29). The article also highlights how socially conflicted gangs ae fighting amongst themselves to prove authority and rank., to revamp, the way the gangs operated to cover more territory. Moreover, the article demonstrated that symbolic interactionalism was changing, whereas their present values of loyalty was no longer valid. Their social status was flawed because of their grievances against society, which resulted in a bloodbath. Furthermore, the continued violence in the Stockholm, demonstrated that the demographics for this area was symbolic in nature to increased violence. Nonetheless, the fact that there were few interpretations of why this uprising was continuous, reiterates the need to analyze the relationship between the gang member and society, focusing on the gang’s social identity
Gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and up to 90 percent in others, according to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. Perhaps one of the most notorious street gangs in the western hemisphere is The Mara Salvatrucha also known as MS 13. “Mara” is Salvadorian for “Group”, although there is debate over the origin and meaning, it is commonly known to mean “street smart. MS 13 was formed on the streets of Los Angeles in the 1980’s by immigrants. “Mara Salvatrucha Stoners” is what MS 13 was originally called, they emphasized on partying, friendship and protecting one another from other gangs in L.A.
The police were very often seen as violent, brutal, and corrupted. The author takes it a step further to not only say that this relationship is only caused because the men are gangsters, but that they are also Mexican. There are many occasions when Rodriguez relays an account where the police call the men very racist names and act upon their beliefs in a very brutal manner. He continues this theme of social inequality as he talks about his experiences in school and his parents ' experiences in their jobs. By depicting these situations Rodriguez makes the large assumption that the main reason that gangs are so prominent is because the Mexican culture was experiencing a lack of resources and support and therefore, their youth turned to something they felt could help.
Studies show that youth have a higher rate of serious and violent offending while they are actively taking part in the gang than before or after gang affiliation. Thornberry suggest that the Facilitation effect on gang membership is a model that can be used to study this relationship between gang involvement and crime. He suggests that the norms and the group processes of the gang are thought to facilitate involvement in delinquency and violence. For example, Esbensen and Huizinga (1996) reported that “Prevalence rates are highest during the gang member’s years of actual membership.” This finding reinforce the model Thornberry provided earlier in the reading; that gang members take part in crimes because of the norms and lifestyle put in place by the
“ ...while the Socs had so much spare time and money that they jumped us and each other for kicks, had beer blasts and river bottom parties because they didn’t know what else to do” (Hinton 43). This shows that Greasers have problems with wealth and why they are in groups such as gangs. This also shows that they do not have anything what the Socs have as they come from poor families with parents that neglect them or they passed away. Moreover, in the article “The Allure of Gangs,” “Feelings of being caught in a trap in a hopeless situation, in a poor neighborhood with no way out…,” (para 7). This shows that kids in poverty are and why they join gangs.
In sociology, there are three theoretical perspectives; symbolic interactionism, functional analysis and conflict theory. The major point of symbolic interactionism is to use symbols to help understand how we as a society view the world, and how we communicate with one another. In functional analysis, the major point is to look at society as a whole, constructed of various parts, or groups, that all have their own function. Lastly, conflict theory is the opposite of functional analysis. In this perspective, society is viewed as different groups, each competing for power, or dominance.
“Society thinks we are monsters.” Mr. Antunez said at the beginning of the article Shuttling Between Nations, Latino Gangs Confound the Law. The following paper is going to take a close look at several aspects of Latino gangs and their effects on culture. The taboos and deviant acts that are committed by both groups. Actions the dominant culture has done to enforce the rules of society and, more closely, ways that the dominant culture has been deviant.
CRIMINAL LAW AND JUSTICE Word count: 2000 Table of Contents Problematic issues caused by ‘Street Gangs’ 3 Modern Trend in Juvenile Crime and Violence 5 Drug, crime and public policy………………………………………………………………….. 7 Theories of Criminology………………………………………………………………………….9 Models of criminology…………………………………………………………………………11 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………13 1. Problematic issues caused by ‘Street Gangs’: Street gangs and associated problems is a complex issue to describe as they are growing strong and wittier as they have started their activities using technology and internet.
According to the U.S Department of Justice (2001), the reasons that young adults join gangs can be either complex or for personal reasons. In their most recent study, it was found that just like male gang members, females join gangs because of economic problems and because of gang-family involvement and the pressure that comes from that family dynamic (pg. 2). According to Deschenes and Esbebsen (1999, pg. 63), traditionally, it is more common for males to be involved in gang and gang activity versus females. This is because this is the norm in our society and it is the stereotype when it comes to males
Street gangs are strongly place specific and their turf is never in doubt in the minds of gang and non-gang youth (Ley, Cybriwsky, 1974). Territorology, which is the since of such territorial formations has studied quite intensely the relation of gangs and territories (Mubi, 2010). There has been major critiques of the theory that graffiti is a marker of territory for gangs, because some say it is not distinguishable enough (Mubi, 2010), others say there is still not enough understanding of the markings (Lidsey and Kearns, 1994) and that gang graffiti is more about communication rather than territory (Perkins et al, 1993). Each of these critiques do make strong cases against the relationship between gangs and territories, but there has been substantial evidence proving the correlation between gang graffiti and territory. Also it is important to note that graffiti is not the sole marker of territory, gangs have been using sneakers to mark territories.
The narrator and the other gang members have claimed a territory. The fact that they are claiming where they are going to station themselves has officially made them more a gang. Reading this book will help you understand why gang violence is necessary to be taught in schools, so then teenagers don’t end up getting into bad
Thesis: A subculture differentiates itself from the larger culture by creating a new identity for itself. Often, subculture’s are deviant. The Blood gang is a deviant subculture in America, born out of fear and love. I. The Blood gang as a subculture is perpetuated through socialization.
During his time studying these boys, he found that most cases of conflict were resolved without the use of weapon(s), but rather with “harsh conversation”. This observation highly contradicts the typical view of gang members who are commonly stereotyped by their local community and justice system in Oakland. Rios describes how the boys “Conversations often involved references to guns as analogies for resolving conflict and demonstrating manhood”. The fact that most conflicts are dealt with in non-violent ways, highlights the negative role
It has been firmly established that the characteristics and behaviors of gangs are exceptionally varied within and across geographical areas (Klein, 2002; National Youth Gang Center, forthcoming; Weisel, 2002) and that a community?s gang problem, however affected from other areas is primarily and inherently homegrown. As such various
In order to better understand and analyze the context of urban violence, the phenomenon has been divided into four different categories: political, institutional, economic and social violence, even though they all eventually overlap. - Political violence in urban areas refers to all forms of violence whose manifestation expresses through guerrillas and paramilitary conflicts, through political assassinations or armed conflict between political parties. Its final goal is to win or maintain political power. - Institutional urban violence includes all sort of “abuse of power” on behalf of state institutions or even private sectors: police brutality; killings carried out by police outside of the boundaries of legality; the social
Throughout the 17th-century gangs have been causing havoc in people's life and destroying the society. The National Institute of Justice (2011) has defined a gang as "A group of collective members which create an atmosphere of intimidation among citizens. " Many of these gangs are well organized, using different forms of violence to control neighbourhoods and to conduct their illegal activities. The National Gang Threat Assessment (2011) reports that “Gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions.” Street Gangs have caused incidences of violence that is confined in the inner city of many countries.