Assignment

Make a chart titled “Personal Involvement in Groups”

Divide a page into 4 sections, and in each, write the name of a group to which you belong

For each, write: How long have you been a part of this group? What needs does the group meet? (why are you

still a member?) What is your role in the group? What are the groups norms? What sanctions does the group use to ensure

conformity?

Cliques and Gangs

Groups, Crowds and Cliques Part III

Cliques

An exclusive group that includes a small number of chosen membersFriends, not familyUsually 2-12 peopleGenerally same age/sex

Cliques

Like any group, they have their own normsMusicDressLeisure activities

Why be part of a clique?

Shared values, ideas, activitiesForm close friendshipsMeet social/esteem needsBut…

Cliques change over timeThink about who you hang out with now, vs.

Grade 9, vs. primary school

Cliques at OTHS?

What are the different cliques you can think of here?

How do members identify themselves?What sort of activities do they do?Pick one group and develop a logo, flag,

or symbol that represents it

Gangs

Group of individuals, usually male and between the ages of 11-25

Operate under some sort of leadershipClaim a territory/turfUsually have a name with identfiying

colours and logoCommit spontaneous crimes or more

organized criminal enterprises

Gangs

Similar to cliques in many waysExclusive groupEmotional bondCommon goals

Some key differencesMore controlling (harsher sanctions)TerritorialDelinquent/criminal/violent behaviour

Some statistics (Toronto)

Mostly Male (82%). 70% were born in Canada. 61% from single-parent backgrounds; 11%

raised under child-protection; 23% come from two-parent families; and 5% were raised by other relatives (mainly grandparents).

41% of all respondents self-identified as black, 37% are white, 9% are Hispanic, 7% are Native, 3% are Asian and 3% are South Asian.

60% were raised in public housing projects.

Some statistics (Toronto)

96% of respondents said that their gang had a name.

93% said that their gang had distinctive symbols, colours or tags.

72% said that new gang members had to be initiated.

88% said that their gang had a specific territory or turf.

Some statistics (Toronto)

Mean age of first gang involvement=14 years.

Mean age of gang exiting=20.5 years.Minimum gang size: 5 Maximum gang size: 10,000Minimum age of gang members: 10

Reasons for Joining and Remaining Involved in Gangs

Why did you first become involved in a gang?

Why do you think you stayed in the gang for so long?

In your opinion, what are the good things about being a gang member? What are the benefits?

Power and Respect

“It’s like people in my neighbourhood give you respect when you is in the gang. They know who you are and they don’t mess. Nobody knew me before I got involved. Now I’m famous in my area. People know me now”(male, 22 years).

“I like the respect. I like the power. You walk into a place with your boys and people notice you, ladies notice you. Ya got status, you can swagger. People know you ain’t no punk”(male, 19 years).

Money

“I like it for the money. We made lots of money sellin drugs and stealin and ripping people off. I got to buy stuff I could not get with no job at Macdonalds. In this world ya got to have some bling”(male 21 years).

“Obviously I do it for the cash. If there weren’t no money in it I’d be gone. But the cash is good man. Bought me a car, some clothes, gave me money for the club, got me money to get women, gave me money to help my moms”(male 20 years).

Money and Respect

I’m not workin at Macdonalds or some place like that. That’s slavery. They pay you shit and make you dress like a goof and have some punk manager order you around. Nobody respects some guy flippin burgers or wearing some stupid ref shirt at Foot Locker. I make real cheddar in the gang, we are our own bosses, and we get plenty more respect from people cause of the money we got and because we never sell out”(male 22 years).

Money and Respect

“It’s like the only jobs they got for poor black people is like Macdonalds or Wendy’s or other bullshit like that. Low, low pay, no respect. You basically just a slave, just a punk while some fat owner gets rich. I’m not going down like that. I’m my own boss, make way more money and don’t sell myself out to shit like that. I’d rather die than embarrass myself like that”(male 23 years).

Protection

“In my area, man, if you ain’t with a gang your gonna get punked and jumped all the time. If ya can’t beat em join em. The gang got your back and people don’t mess with you cause they know you got backup”(female 19).

“Hey, one of the reasons I joined is because I was scared. Got beat up a couple of times, got jumped and had my walkman stolen and my money. I needed backup cause I can’t fight these guys on my own”(male 18).

Social Support and Companionship

“The gang is like my family man. They got my back. When you need something like some clothes or some food or some money or a place to crash they are there. When you need to talk they are there. When you got a beef they got your back. I love these guys man. They are my blood, my heart”(male 22 years).

Social Support and Companionship

The guys in my gang, we are all from the same neighbourhood. The projects. We grew up together from small. They are family. It is like us against the world. We respect each other, support each other. Nobody in the outside world helps, or cares, so it is up to us. That’s it man. Family”(male 20 years).

Social Alienation and Defiance

“What chance has a guy like me got in the real world. A poor black guy? Schools are shit, teachers don’t think you can do the work. Nobody’s gonna give me a job. So I’ll get paid and live in another way, in another world where I can get respect and nobody cares what I look like or where I come from. I know I’ll probably die young or go to jail, but what other chance is there?”(male 22).

Social Alienation and Defiance

“I’m poor and white. Poor whites get nothin in Canada. I can’t claim racism, can’t get no special programming or special help in school. I’m no refugee. Your white and a guy so nobody gives you any sympathy. They just expect you to be okay. Immigrants get all the jobs and breaks. So I just give up and will do the crime thing. At least you have fun, get respect from your friends. When you don’t give a shit you stop worrying and it’s not so bad. Drugs and drinking help to”(male 19).

Social Alienation and Defiance

“If I thought I could get out and get a real job that pays good I would. But I’m not some spoiled kid. My daddy ain’t gonna give me a car when I graduate and send me to Europe for a vacation. Some white kids in my high school just got that shit. It’s like they expected it. My mom don’t have no money to send me to university. See –I got no chance. So I do what I have to do. At least I have my pride. I can be brave and fight and make some money….but really I’ve just kinda given up”(male 24 years).

Homework

Explain why people join gangs using Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

See “Why do gangs form?” on page 175 and answer questions 1-3