Female Juvenile Delinquency & The Involvement In Gangs

Question 1

explain that there’s very little info on the topic

Answer 1

The topic of females in gangs is a very complex and under-researched issue
It therefore poses significant challenges for understanding and providing appropriate intervention

Question 2

Challenges in studying the involvement of females in gangs

Answer 2

GENDER GAP IN OFFENDING
female crimes are said to be less serious than male crimes and therefore less attentionn resources are devoted to them

MALE CENTRIC FOCUS
Involves a traditional focus on male crimes
and generalizes those findings to female crimes
Therefore fails to adress gender-specific issues and needs

UNIQUE PATHWAYS AND CONCERNS
Female crimes only arise from distinct factors
and their involvement in gangs often stems from different factors, such as risky
family dynamics, abuse, mental health issues, substance abuse, and risky sexual behaviors.
These unique concerns need to be addressed in research and interventions

OFFICIAL STATISTICS
Theres a decline in arrests of female offenders compared to male offenders
Which indicates a lack of research and intervention for female gang offenders

CHALLENGES IN GATHERING DATA
Concealed roles
underreporting
distinct initiation and participation process

Question 3

Difficulty of accessing girls and women in gangs

Answer 3

1. Male Gatekeepers: Male gang members often act as gatekeepers and control access to
   female gang members. This makes it challenging for researchers to directly engage with
   female gang members.
2. Gang Culture: The secretive and often violent nature of gang culture discourages gang
   members, including females, from openly engaging with outsiders, including researchers.
3. Security Concerns: Ensuring the safety and security of female gang members during
   interviews is a significant concern, as they may face threats from within the gang or rival
   gangs

Question 4

diverging viewpoints on female gang membership

Answer 4

Incidental involvement=female gang members contribute to criminal activity incidentally
and could only be said to be more criminal than non-gang members
They are Auxillary members to male-dominated gangs

Increased independence and criminality
the female gang members are independent, violent and criminal
involved in wider range of crime
Their involvement is autonomous

Question 5

Gangs substitute as families

Answer 5

Most of these girls come from background of neglect, poverty and abuse
So these gange members provide a substitute for dysfunctional families
By providing social support, love, power, acceptance and control

Question 6

Initiation into gangs

Answer 6

jumped in=Prospective gang member must prove herself by receiving a beating from all gang members

Fair fight- prospective gang member has to engage in a physical fight with one of the selected gang members

Walked in = rare phenomenon where prospective gang member is voted in and is usually a family member or associated with one of family members

Jacked in=Prospective gang member must prove herself by committing theft

Sexed in/trained in= This is usually associated with female gangs where prospective members must have sex with male gang members
and it involves exposure to sexual exploitation and stds

Question 7

End of gang membership

Answer 7

Most female members end their gang membership due to pregnancies, graduation from school or marriage

Older female members may act take on advisory roles within gangs
They tend to have a realistic outlook on their futures and therefore do not aspire to move upwards in their membership but focus on short term gratification

Question 8

Girl gangs seen as social control mechanisms.

Answer 8

Gang members have a diffused form of leadership based on consensus when it comes to regulating the dating behaviours between gang members

Question 9

Salient findings of the South African study

Answer 9

1. Seeking a Sense of Belonging: Girls and young women join gangs to find a sense of
   belonging and a substitute for their dysfunctional families.
2. Sex as Currency: Sexual favors are common within gang interactions involving women.
   Sexual exploitation and abuse are prevalent within gangs.
3. History of Abuse: Many female gang members have a history of abuse, including sexual
   abuse within their families, which often continues within the gang environment.
4. Control and Surveillance: Female gang members are often under considerable control and surveillance within the gang. They may be marked with tattoos or subjected to other forms
   of control.
5. Participation in Criminal Acts: Female gang members actively participate in criminal and
   violent activities, including robberies, drug dealing, and murder.
6. Exclusion from Leadership: Despite their active participation, women are largely excluded
   from leadership positions within gangs.
7. Abuse in the Criminal Justice System: Female gang members often experience abuse in
   the criminal justice system, with sexual abuse being a common issue

Question 10

Interventions to support girls and women caught up in the gang subculture.

Can be organized into three levels:

Answer 10

IMMEDIATE AND SPECIFIC ACTIONS
1. Reduce Surveillance: Address issues related to male gang members surveilling female
members to create a safer environment for girls wishing to exit gangs.
2. Identify Abused Girls: Identify and support girls and young women who have experienced
abuse and violence in their families or communities.

MEDIUM TERM INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT RECRUITMENTS:
1. Foster Systems of Belonging at Schools: Create programs that promote a sense of
belonging and community in schools to deter girls from seeking belonging in gangs.
2. Reduce Drug Demand: Develop programs that address drug demand and offer sexual
awareness and education to reduce risky behaviours.

LONGER TERM PROGRAMMES TO CHANGE STRUCTURAL POSITIONS
1. Effective Child Care: Develop programs to provide effective care for children born to
female gang members, addressing the unique challenges they face.
2. Reduce Gender-Based Violence: Implement strategies to reduce gender-based violence in
families and communities, providing a safer environment for girls and women.
3. Drug Treatment Facilities: Establish accessible and effective drug treatment facilities in
gang-affected areas to address substance abuse issues.
4. Employment Alternatives: Create opportunities for women involved in gangs to access
employment alternatives and gain economic independence