Girl Gangs and the Female Crime Wave in America Essay

Starting in the 1980s, reports of female involvement in gangs, drug sales, and violence began to surface as a serious problem in America. To support claims of increased female delinquency, reporters and scholars often cite crime statistics or anecdotes from field studies. The reasons they give to explain this female crime wave generally fall into one of two categories: drugs as a means for economic success the idea that the increased availability of crack cocaine provides economic means to poverty-ridden women suffering from the effects of urbanization and deindustrializationand social movements the idea that female â€Å"liberation† has hit the streets. Statistics on female crime and gang involvement may leave the public with little reason†¦show more content†¦They’re becoming much more autonomous.† Coinciding with the notion of female liberation and increased equality in other parts of society, the media have often used the concept of â€Å"liberation† to explain the rise in female gang involvement (Miller 4; Pearson). The liberation hypothesis as an explanation for female gang involvement and delinquency is rooted in scholarly thinking. Freda Adler, author of Sisters in Crime, says, â€Å"In the same way that women are demanding equal opportunity in fields of legitimate endeavor, a similar number of determined women are forcing their way into the world of major crimes† (13). Economic factors are also cited as reasons for increased gang involvement. Arguing that â€Å"a new attitude of female criminal independence is emerging† and that the â€Å"male-female gang relationship is also being altered,† scholars like Taylor claim that an influx of crack cocaine in the mid 1980s, during a time of deindustrialization and increased poverty, provided females with incentive to take advantage of â€Å"gender-neutral† employment opportunities on the street—and continues to do so. He says, â€Å"The social structure and economic plight of Detroit and other cities play a signi ficant part inShow MoreRelatedAn Increasing Crime Statistic In The United States Is A1120 Words   |  5 Pagesincreasing crime statistic in the United States is a lot of violence by young gangs. In this case, young gangs tend to kill other young people in a large percentage of incidents these juvenile killers belong to young gangs. Young gangs band together for various reasons and get into trouble with the law are certainly not new in America. Young gangs have been around since the early 1800’s it was formed young kids of low-income immigrants who felt that society held no place for them . The earliest gangs, whichRead MoreThe Roaring Twenties1460 Words   |  6 Pageswas banned causing the crime rates to skyrocket and the consumption of alcohol fluctuated. The nineteen twenties were a time for change both socially and politically. America’s wealth increased significantly and people listened to the same genres of music, and bought the same things. Even with all the changes that came with the Twenties, the bad outweighed the good drastically. Organized Crimes, Prohibition Laws, and the appearance of new money against the old, changed America like no other other decadeRead MoreThe War On Drugs Latin America2041 Words   |  9 PagesThe war on drugs in Latin America is no longer just about drugs. Now women cannot live in prosperity due to the current situation that has become a lifestyle in Latin America. Everyday women are picked off of the streets by these criminals. Most if not all of those women will never see their families again. They become property of the drug cartels and victims of violent gangs. The most famous gangs in Latin America are the Mara Salvatruchas 13, and Calle 18, which means 18th Street. While the mostRead MoreThe End Of The American Revolutionary War1595 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience street gangs. However, most organized and violent street gangs did not emerge in America until the beginning of the nineteenth century. As immigration continued street gangs emerged in the United States in four regions during different periods of time. These first gangs were mainly comprised of white immigrants from Northern and Western Europe who came to the United States from the time the Revolutionary War ended in 1783 through to approximately 1860. In 1820, a second wave of immigrationRead MoreThe End Of The American Revolutionary War1595 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience street gangs. However, most organized and violent street gangs did not emerge in America until the beginning of the nineteenth century. As immigration continued street gangs emerged in the United States in four regions during different periods of time. These first gangs were mainly comprised of white immigrants from Northern and Western Europe who came to the United States from the time the Revolutionary War ended in 1783 through to approximately 1860. In 1820, a second wave of immigrationRead MoreSenate Republicans Oppose Equal Pay Bill1404 Words   |  6 Pagesattention to. When did it become acceptable for male students to show part of their underwear and not get called out for while a female student is fully covered but called out for just for beginning to develop. Throughout students education a dress code is enforced. That they should cover their bodies in a specific way. Polytechnic High school dress code states,† â€Å" 1.No gang affiliated attire, including: No excessively baggy or sagging pants/shorts. Pants/shorts must be worn at the waist and overallRead More Youth Gangs Across the Globe Essay4796 Words   |  20 PagesMost gangs are created to form a sense of power and control. All types of problems are presented to the youths of today growing up in major cities. Before being so eager to jump to conclusions, we must try to understand these problems, or we will never find a solution to them. Gang members are out there trying to find a family that some never had. It may not seem like much to you - an abandoned house or a park - but it becomes a place to call their own. It’s easy to say â€Å"why don’t they everRead MoreEssay on Rape: A Living Nightmare3131 Words   |  13 Pages19-year-old girl, far too old to think I know everything. I don’t pretend to be an expert on rape. Having known the feel of a cold blade pressed to my side gave me no superior understanding of the crime, only a small scar to remember it by. Thus I offer you no solution. I cannot say with any conviction that my writing will help to save even one person from being subjected to a similar fate. Before you’ve read to the bottom of this page three more girls will be sexually assaulted, one girl will be rapedRead MoreJuveniles Do The Crime They Should Not Do Crime3483 Words   |  14 PagesRhodes 10 â€Å"If Juveniles Do the Crime They Should Not Do the Crime† By Raymond Rhodes English 4 College Prep Mr. Wilson 2nd Period 3/14/2017 As a teen, staying out of trouble is a very complicated task. Whether it’s trouble with your parents or trouble with the law. Especially, if you grew up around convicted felonies or even lived in poverty, which would put you in the mindset of going out and doing crimes for a little extra money in your pockets. In my opinion, teens that areRead MoreEpekto Ng Polusyon19213 Words   |  77 Pagesarea of the woman’s exit, this paper aims to discover the processes involved in moving on from a violent relationship and how women’s lives and sense of selves are rebuilt. A qualitative method was employed and data generated from interviews with ten female victims of domestic violence was thematically analysed. Results of the research indicate that one of the biggest barriers to recovery is the stigma associated with domestic violence and the judgements that society imposes upon victims. This research