Youth Gangs

“Did you hear about the gang fight, at lunch today?” A direct quote from a fellow middle schooler. This is not the first time I have heard remarks in this style. Gangs and gang fights are relevant in today’s neighborhoods and even schools. Are gangs really an issue? Yes, for children safety reasons and and societal issues.

Children are often recruited into gangs at a very young age. Children are still vulnerable and weak. By taking part in ‘gang fights’ are at the risk of being seriously injured. According to The National Crime Prevention Council ‘gangs claim territory (turf) to make money by illegal activities. Such as drug trafficking.’ By having children take part in illegal activities at a young age they are taught to defy authority and safety. Drug dealing and other prohibited activities are unsafe and often results in injuries, jail time, or in some cases death.  The council also says ‘gangs recruit most heavily in public schools.Schools are meant to be safe for all children and staff. With felonious acts happening on the school grounds all forms of safety are retracted. Gangs populating schools are not only physically unsafe but also mentally.

Gangs cause many sociological issues in children and adults. When children are faced with the pressure of their peers to join a gang to ‘be cool or tough’ they will most likely cave. With children’s willpower being destroyed by the social pressure to be cool they are more likely to underage drink, smoke, and commit other crimes. Studies have shown children almost always join gangs to be accepted. I asked fellow eighth graders what they thought the word identity meant some said “who you are.” While others said “how someone is portrayed.” While one student said “Identity is how you look, act, dress, speak, think, and who you hang out with all put together to make one big label.” Are gangs influencing a child’s identity, most definitely. Gangs have a strict protocol on how to dress, speak, and present yourself. Gangs often restrict outside communications also. By the eighth graders definition of identity gangs form children’s identity from the moment they join. Gangs are often seen as uniformed children who act tough and appear that way to. Sometimes the charade of being a big macho man is not what a child necessarily is.  

Although gangs are a danger to children and adults some disagree. Some say gangs are just little cliques that do no harm. However, cliques are small social groups who share common interests while gangs are organized groups of criminals. Gangs follow leaders, someone who conducts their every move. While cliques are just a group of friends who follow each other and act on their own.

Overall, gangs in schools and society are physically and mentally damaging to humans of all ages.