Something else has been bothering me lately...

[Hexen]

I've been talking to a few people today about the Ghetto, gangs,and others and I've been saying that "the whole reason why people join Gangs is because of poverty is they either starve to death or join a Gang " and one of the people suggested "It is because they don't have Fathers or Mothers or live in Broken families (Or I think the person may have actually said "They don't have Fathers and live with their Mothers in broken families" although I didn't hear so clearly)"...

Now is there anyway to debunk the "Broken Families" claim?

[fa2991]

Blame broken families on poverty, too. :D

Also, rich people with divorced parents don't form gangs, suggesting that poverty is the crucial element.

[ZombieGrits]

yeah, i could find an article about it if i really had to, but i've read in a couple of places that economic strains are the cause of most divorces in america. so theres your broken home, caused by poverty

elaborating on the rich kids thing, the reason rich kids dont join gangs is cuz they know that they have a future elsewhere, they know that their family will be able to pay them through college and into a comfortable income. whereas poorer folks have to work their ass off to try to get a scholarship; its much easier (and more interesting :D) just to sell some drugs with your buddies

[Quail]

Blame broken families on poverty, too. :D


Poverty can put an awful lot of pressure on a relationship, so I don't think it would be unfair to blame some broken families on poverty.

I would also point out that people living in poverty have more incentive to commit certain crimes. For example, I know of students that have dealt drugs to get themselves through uni. I think there is also a correlation between poverty and substance abuse and substance abuse can account for crimes such as stealing, and also violent crimes. There are lots of plausible reasons that could explain why people living in poverty are more likely to commit crimes.

[Adi Shankara]

Broken families, to be honest, isn't a bad suggestion for a cause; of course as anyone could tell you and as you probably know, the reasons aren't as simple as black and white. However, many people do try to form gangs for the closeness they can't find in a family; broken families are often in poverty, and vice versa, so while you'd never know the initial cause, you could indeed guess that many such "gang members" are from broken families.

[MrCharizma]

I think that broken families occur within any economic circumstance, not just with families in poverty, but those who have stable incomes too (speaking from experience). Though I'm sure the majority are caused by external changes such as economic ones. But I do definitely agree that many youths join gangs to have that support and to have that sense of belonging to their group of peers, then they generate hatred, for the system and their problems, then do 'bad' things.

That's the way I see it anyway..
There's a similar thread on this topic in the Learning section if you want to read up on it, "Does poverty cause crime?" (I can't post links)

[NGNM85]

It's true that most gang members come from broken homes, it offers a sense of family, a support system. However, there are several other reasons that are just as important. Gang membership provides a certain social status, the feeling of 'being part of something greater than yourself.' Gang membership changes how one is perceived, there are subconscious associations. Gangsters are perceived to be tough, cool, dominant, confident in their sexuality and successful with women, the archetype is a caricature of masculinity, like the archetypal action hero, a total alpha male. This definitely appeals to young men, especially the troubled ones. Also, gangs may be a source of income, especially for the poor. Lastly, in certain neighborhoods, and in prison, joining a gang might simply be a survival imperative.

[Peter The Painter]

Gangs are caused by poverty and a lack of guidance at home, for sure.

The police have their war on gangs, well us revolutionaries have our war on the conditions that cause gangs to form.

But, at the same time, most people in Ghettos do not engage in crime, so, sometimes, people can use their background, to find an excuse to rob and steal,from good hard working people.

In the black community in the US for example, job discrimination and housing discrimination are the same as they were in 1969 belfast, this equalls lots of broken homes, leading to unstable financial upbringing, which leads to poverty and disillusionment with the system.

But as most do not have the exposure to revolutionary ideas, a in it for myself and my crew tribalism seems to form, which is a self destructive attempt at saying fuck you to the system.

Fred hampton got alot of gangs to form a rainbow coalition, which created many revolutionary gangs.

But what is crime, stealing food to eat, slanging dope, or wage slavery?