Full Version: Girls in gangs
I read an article in the Chicago Tribune today that most people do not know or think about girls in High School belonging in gangs. For the most part the percentage is low but more than I knew.
I know there are a lot of young adults here in this forum that are in High School. Do you see this? Are we older adults not informed or aware?
Is this a bigger problem than we are aware of?
Interested!
I know there are a lot of young adults here in this forum that are in High School. Do you see this? Are we older adults not informed or aware?
Is this a bigger problem than we are aware of?
Interested!
This does not surprise me at all. I harbor no illusions that females are any less capable of wickedness than males. (Is the undeniable fact that young men are responsible for more violent crime than young women due to inherent biological differences or to societal and psychological factors? I suspect both. In any case, it cannot be accepted as "normal" in either sex.)
Here's an article about this problem:
Crusade to Curb Girl Gangs
The trend is very real:
Why?
A strong effort to prevent child abuse seems like a reasonable place to start dealing with this problem. Trying to go back to "traditional" sex roles, in my opinion, would cause more problems than it would solve.
Here's an article about this problem:
Crusade to Curb Girl Gangs
The trend is very real:
QUOTE
By 1996, the most recent year available, the anecdotal evidence had turned into a documented social problem. During the previous four years, the FBI's violent crime index for young girls had risen 25 percent. During the same period for young boys, it remained level.
Why?
QUOTE
What little research that's been done has tied the increase in violence and gang activity among young women to a variety of factors. They range from the breakdown of the family and increase in child abuse to the heightened levels of violence on the streets and on television to society's changing gender roles.
Estimates suggest that at least 70 percent of female juvenile offenders have been victims of child abuse. A study done by the Center for Women Policy Studies in Washington found that young girls who had been victims of violence - sexual assault or physical abuse - were twice as likely to believe violence was an acceptable way to solve problems.
Estimates suggest that at least 70 percent of female juvenile offenders have been victims of child abuse. A study done by the Center for Women Policy Studies in Washington found that young girls who had been victims of violence - sexual assault or physical abuse - were twice as likely to believe violence was an acceptable way to solve problems.
A strong effort to prevent child abuse seems like a reasonable place to start dealing with this problem. Trying to go back to "traditional" sex roles, in my opinion, would cause more problems than it would solve.
Of course it's a problem. From what I saw through school, it's not at all a rare occurence. The idea that females would not feel the need for a sense of belonging, power, easy money, and safety in numbers is based in fantasy. Actually, the fights between female gang members tend to be more ruthless.
It's funny you mention traditional sex roles, Victoria, considering how females get initiated into gangs. While males tend to get "jumped in" (getting beat down by several gang members at the same time), females get "sexed in" (having sex with several gang members at the same time).
QUOTE(Victoria Silverwolf @ May 3 2004, 09:52 PM)
Trying to go back to "traditional" sex roles, in my opinion, would cause more problems than it would solve.
It's funny you mention traditional sex roles, Victoria, considering how females get initiated into gangs. While males tend to get "jumped in" (getting beat down by several gang members at the same time), females get "sexed in" (having sex with several gang members at the same time).
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