Why do young people join a gang?
The reasons for joining a gang may range from wanting a good time to pursuing entrepreneurial ventures that may require a considerable commitment to delinquent or criminal activity.
These reasons and correlates of gang participation, coupled with a society that is more violent and one that glamorizes gangs and criminals on television and in movies, make it no surprise that our youth are in gangs. Within the gang, they find identity, security, companionship, and a sense of belonging they never knew at home.
Still, other youths join gangs merely for survival or protection from other gangs. The gang may also represent a way to succeed and obtain material possessions that the youth would not otherwise have.
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