Differences between Gang Girls and Gang Boys

Abstract

During the past decade, a growing body of literature examining gang girls and the involvement of girls in violence has appeared. In this article, we contribute to this developing literature by using data from a multisite evaluation to explore the extent to which gang girls are similar to or different from gang boys in terms of their attitudes, perceptions of their gangs, and their involvement in ganglike illegal activities. Findings indicate that gang girls are involved in a full array of illegal gang activities, although not as frequently as the gang boys. Whereas similarities exist in behavioral activities and in reasons for joining gangs, gang girls report greater social isolation from family and friends than do gang boys. The gang girls also report lower levels of self-esteem than do the boys. These gender differences are discussed in terms of differential developmental trajectories for boys and girls.

Predictors of Gang Involvement: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data From the Mobile Youth Survey

“…Females who affiliated with gangs tended to report greater isolation and lower selfesteem than their male counterparts (Carlson, Uppal, & Prosser, 2000;Esbensen, Deschenes, & Winfree, 1999). Further, exposure to violence and risky behaviors common in gangs are associated with higher distress and lower self-esteem in female gang members, which might mean gang involvement itself is associated with poorer psychological well-being (Li et al, 2002).…”

Hybrid and Other Modern Gangs

“…In 1999, law enforcement agencies reported active youth gangs in 100 percent of the Nation's largest cities (those with populations of 250,000 or more), 47 percent of suburban counties, 27 percent of small cities (those with populations below 25,000), and 18 percent of rural Winfree, 1999;Fleisher, 1998;Miller, J.A., 2001). For example, 92 percent of gang youth in one student survey (Esbensen, Deschenes, and Winfree, 1999:42) said both boys and girls belonged to their gang.…”

Les filles et les gangs : contextes et répercussions pour les femmes

“…Une étude menée auprès de jeunes âgés de 11 à 15 ans a mis en évidence que près de la moitié des membres de gangs était des filles, tandis qu'une autre étude, qui s'intéressait à des jeunes plus âgés (13 à 19 ans), a montré que seulement un cinquième des membres était des filles (Esbensen et Huizinga, 1993). Au sein de l'échantillon de jeunes réunis dans le cadre de l'évaluation du programme de lutte contre les gangs (Gang Resistance Education And Training), les filles comptaient pour 38 % de l'échantillon des élèves de deuxième secondaire qui affirmaient faire partie d'un gang (Esbensen, Deschenes et Winfree, 1999). Un chercheur a observé que c'est environ à cet âge que les filles commencent à s'intéresser au mouvement scout (Quicker, 1994).…”