Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What
has made these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and prestigious way to live? The long range answer to these questions can only be speculated upon, but in the short term the answers are much easier to find. On the surface, gangs are a direct result of human beings' personal wants and peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence we must find the way that these morals are given to the individual. Unfortunately, these can only be hypothesized. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I believe there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, drugs and our economic system.
On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed.
List of criminal gangs in Los Angeles, California
Image depicting member of MS13 gang. Work of the F...
English: An MS-13 suspect bearing gang tattoos is ...Many teens in gangs
will pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous.
Money is also an crucial factor. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a member) is
shown that s/he could make $200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Although these
are important factors they are not strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly
against their morals.
One of the ways that kids morals are bent so that gang violence becomes more
acceptable is the influence of television and movies. The average child spends more time
at a TV than she/he spends in a classroom. Since nobody can completely turn off their
minds, kids must be learning something while watching the TV. Very few hours of
television watched by children are educational, so other ideas are being absorbed...