Pedagogy

James is a quiet handsome innocent looking African American student. By his looks, no one could have imagined that he could become a member of the local notorious gang that is associated with many criminal activities in the area. Many cannot understand why such a boy could drop out of school and become a gang member. James is just a representation of many young boys and girls who have become members of gangs. The continuous growth of the youth gangs in many cities and rural areas over the last several decades has become a key cause of concern. A survey conducted in US in 1995 showed that there were about 665,000 members in 23000 gangs (Beverly, 2009). Young gangs are associated with criminal activities such as drug trafficking, shootings, stealing, robbery and rape among others. Many studies have been conducted with the aim of finding a solution on why youth join gangs and how this can be minimised or stopped completely. Family structure and support is a very important determinant of youth involvement in gangs.

There are several factors that have been identified as contributing to youth getting involved in gang. However the major items include need to feel protected, to belong and insecurity.

Family structure and Support as a cause factor

Interviews with and observations of gang members have shown that they may have joined the gangs because they were raised by a single parent (particularly female) who was not competent or in a because there was an absence of a male role model (adult) in that home. In case there was an adult male in that family, he was negative meaning he was a gang member, uncaring, cold or abusive. There are cases whereby there is a males succession in the family, a factor that make the child alienated, confused and angered (Carlie, 2002). The largest teachers union in the United Kingdom NASUWT once stated in their findings that Gang culture is partly caused by absent fathers and family breakdown The research has highlighted family breakdown, less positive activities and deprivation as some of the reasons that have resulted into the gang culture.  In addition, the study claimed that children often feel most impressionable at ages of 14 and 13 though if those in the primary school may become part of the ever increasing gangs. An earlier report by the  same organization had indicated that  when the family lacks a positive role model or a fatherly figure in addition to unrestricted freedom would lead to a situation where children will desr

The other family factor that has been associated with gang membership includes denial of basic human needs to youths as this magnifies external influence especially from the surrounding community. Whenever the responsibility of providing the needs is not carried elsewhere so as to come up with good citizenship, then the probability of the young joining the gang will be higher (Carlie, 2002). Gang involvement is often stirred by families that do not provide the children with support and resources which typically is linked to family life. In many of the cases that have been studied, the families are either very poor to offer economic resources which gangs are able to supply. In a study that was conducted in 1998, there was evidence that sixty three percent of youths who were members of an African American gang in Detroit had their families employed part time. Such young often turn to gang members who provide them with money and whatever their parents may not be able to provide (Net Industries, 2010).  

Another family issue associated with the youth becoming members of the gangs is lack of self esteem. Sometimes parents will often fail to make their children develop feelings that are positive about themselves, a condition that hurt the children. In case self esteem is undeveloped in the family, it is also possible for it to be developed at school, in religious institutions, in good neighbourhoods or by the gangs (Carlie, 2002).

Childhood maltreatment in the family has also been mentioned as one of the factors that contribute to bad behaviours amongst the young and that include gang involvement. In addition, childhood maltreatment has often been associated with delinquency, status offences, eating disorders, teenage pregnancy and even suicide. It has been stated that maltreatment often contributes more to youth gang involvement even than family factors such as lack of supervision, family structure and parental support. Children would like to feel supported by their families and if this is lacking and instead they get mistreated there is a probability of them seeking the solace of the gang members (Thomson  Rhoda 1998).  Some of the maltreatment mentioned includes sexual abuse, assault and other violent acts.

The other significant factor that stirs youth into joining gangs is the presence of other adult gang members in the family. There are some neighbourhoods that have family members belonging to single gang. If the father or grandfather is a member of a certain gang, the greatest probability is that the children may be pressurized or motivated to become members of the same gang. Studies that have been conducted have shown that many of the gang members are from families with a history of gang involvement. In such a situation it is practically impossible for a relative who belong to a certain gang not to support a youth who wants to join it (Net Industries, 2010).  

Lack of support for the child is evident in families where either the parents are chronic drug users, alcoholics or are involved in unlawful activities. Such conditions will make the youth stressful and end up joining a gang.