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Line 1: − + + − + − In modern usage, ''gang'' often refers to loosely organized groups that control a territory through readiness to use coordinated [[violence]], especially against other gangs. Violence also serves to maintain organization within the gang and to control gang members (Decker and Van Winkle, 1996; Horowitz, 1983; Sanchez-Jankowski, 1991; Yablonsky, 1962).<ref>http://66.102.1.104/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=cache:h9JcVK1qThEJ:www.campbell.edu/faculty/gay/readings/school_violence/gangs_overview.pdf+gangs+isolation+restrictive+control+members</ref> + + − Gangs are as diverse and dissimilar as the [[ideologies]] and belief systems which influence and motivate them.<ref name="Stith">{{cite web|author=Deborah Prothrow-Stith|url=http://www.children.smartlibrary.org/NewInterface/segment.cfm?segment=2075|title=Not All Gangs are the Same: Types of Youth Gangs|work=Smart Library on Children and Families|accessdate=2007-06-05|actualdate=1991}}</ref> Extremist and hate groups in some states have acquired the label, as the extremist groups operate very similarly to corporate gangs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress05/mueller021605.htm Federal Bureau of Investigation|title=Congressional Testimony - Testimony of Robert S. Mueller, III (Director)|author= Robert S. Mueller, III|actualdate=2005-02-16|accessdate=2007-06-05}} </ref> While hierarchy, colors, and [[Territory (animal)|turf]] are not emphasized as much within these extremist groups, symbols, signs, codes, special languages, and group collaboration and participation in patterns of criminal activity, especially crimes against human rights and civil liberties, are as much a part of the gang type behavior as they are to more traditional 'street gangs'.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/fbi/7stage_hate_model.pdf|title=The Hate Model|author=John R. Schafer, Joe Navarro|accessdate=2007-06-05|actualdate=2007-03}}</ref> + − In [[Social environment|environments]] with few [[social support|social supports]], gangs provide young members a sense of belonging, and protection from other gangs; often, where prospects for gainful employment are poor, they also provide an illegal means of earning a living.+ − + − The dissimilarity between some gangs has prompted the generation of categories to classify gangs based on finances and activities. They also usually account for the drop out rates in the public school system.+ + + + + + + − ''Scavenger gangs'' are characteristically disorganized and often represent the least successful of all the types of gangs. Members of scavenger gangs may be low achievers, and may be prone to violent or erratic behavior. Because these gangs are not well organized, leadership of scavenger gangs may change frequently and without reason. Scavenger gangs often turn to low-level crime, usually committed spontaneously and without planning. If a scavenger gang can become more organized, it may be able to grow into a territorial gang.<ref name="Stith" />+ + + + + − ''Territorial gangs'' are typically more organized than scavenger gangs, but their primary purpose is still social. Some may sell [[drug]]s, but this is not a defining characteristic of the territorial gang. Territorial gangs will often use violent means to defend their territory; in some cases this helps the gang to bond and reinforces the social structures of the gang. Gang members may be attracted to territorial gangs because they have difficult home lives.<ref name="Stith" />+ − − ''Corporate gangs'' are highly organized conspiracies, constructed for the purpose of marketing drugs and gaining maximum [[profit]]s. The symbolism and turfs that are significant to territorial and scavenger gangs are meaningless to corporate gangs. Members of corporate gangs are expected to follow a certain etiquette, and severe punishment can be expected for any faux pas. Leadership of a corporate gang requires a higher level of intelligence than other gangs, and bosses in these gangs will often be highly successful career criminals.<ref name="Stith" /> − ==References== − == See also ==+ − * [[Ku Klux Klan]]+ − + − ==External links== − *[http://www.knowgangs.com/photo/ Gang Photos] - Pictures of different types of gangs and gang members − *[http://www.thehoodup.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82&Itemid=152 Blood Gang Knowledge & History] −
no edit summary
A '''gang''' is a essentially a group. The term typically carries a negative connotation.
{{sociology}}
A '''gang''', in the popular usage, is a group of people formed around a common identity who usually assume an adversarial stance towards [[society]], or at least some other group. More generally, the term used to refer to any group such as a work gang, now uncommon since the term has assumed negative connotations. The usage today is often in the context of [[moral panic]]s about [[crime]], [[drug]]s, "outlaw" gangs, and kids wearing baggy pants and their hats backwards at the mall.
==Modern usage==
==Gang culture==
{{hatnote|[[File:Gangcolors.jpg|thumb|right|Two particularly virulent gang members rocking their colors.]]}}
'''Gang culture''' is a term used mostly by the [[media]] when referring to rising levels of violent and urban crime. Although the criminals may not be part of formal gangs, the term is a catch-all one and often cited as a "cause" of increased violent crime, often used synonymously with terms such as "[[gun]] culture" or "knife culture" in reference to the rising incidences of these weapons being used. Blame is often placed on rap music, dance music, [[Heavy metal|heavy metal]] or [[punk|any other form of music]] that middle-aged, [[Right wing bastards|right-wing newspaper columnists]] don't understand. The music is usually imported from [[United States|America]], although the trans-Atlantic crossing has worked the other way at times. Inner-city gangs tend to have ''exceptionally'' macho names like "The Burger Bar Boys" or "The East Side Playpark Massiiiifffff".
Violent crime rates have decreased dramatically since the early '90s, so [[Creationist|presumably rap music and gang culture no longer exist]].
<i>Gang banger</i> is an American term used in connection with gang culture - the use of which causes no end of amusement among the [[British]].<ref>Don't try to look this up at work, unless you work in a brothel or the Netherlands.</ref>
==Classification==
==Purported gangs==
*[[Lesbian Gang Epidemic|Lesbians]]
*Urban gangs: Crips, Bloods, etc.
*Outlaw or "1%er" motorcycle clubs such as the Hells Angels
*Kids wearing baggy pants and their hats backwards at the mall
*[[Westboro Baptist Church]]
*[[Straight edge]], at least according to the Salt Lake City police
*[[Occupy Wall Street|99% of the United States]]
==Actual gangs==
*[[La Familia Michoacana]]
*The [[Charles Manson|Manson]] Family
*The [[Church of Scientology]]
*The [[Freemasons]]
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Media hysteria]]
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category:Moral panics]]
[[Category:Crime]]
[[Category:Crime]]