Essay Sample on Community Life: Sharing Resources & Promoting Co-Existence

Introduction

Community life brings people from different backgrounds together. At the individual level, the members of the community subscribe to various socio-political, economic, and cultural identities. Community life brings a pool of people together to live side by side and share the resources available. The members of the community may decide to form groupings as a strategy to enhance survival and promote co-existence (Rodgers & Baird, 2015). The group looks out for each other; thus, ensure meeting the needs of members. Some groups form with ulterior motives to benefit only the members at the expense of other members of the community. They subscribe to particular beliefs that set them apart from other community members; therefore, it creates a distinction in their presence. An understanding of the community requires an analysis of all the groupings. The categorization relies on the types, membership, and the impact of their presence on all the community in general.

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A gang is a unit of associates, members of a family, or friends with a defined leadership structure and a private institution that sets them apart from other members of the community. A gang imposes control over an identified geographical area where they publicize their presence based on activities and a distinct lifestyle (Rodgers & Baird, 2015). The group undertakes illicit and mostly violent behavior on an individual basis or as a collection of the members. Their activities are meant to instill fear on the members of the community and assert control. Despite the claim by some gangs that they exist for the good of the whole community, most of the groups are formed to benefit a few individuals at the core of the activities of the members.

A gang member is any individual who subscribes to the beliefs and values of a group of people who engage in illicit behaviors and create havoc in the community. A gang member takes more in-depth participation in the activities of the gang by offering their services and expertise (Rodgers & Baird, 2015). In some cases, the membership involves a subscription through the payment of cash as registration fees. A gang member uses the platform offered by the group to advance the interests of the unit.

Reasons for Joining and Staying in Gangs

Gangs mainly form when a group of young people comes together with ulterior and selfish motives in mind. Young individuals from membership in the society for various reasons;

Firstly, young people join gangs for identity purposes or recognition. Studies show that groups form when young people who feel disenfranchised and alienated by society seek groupings that appreciate their existence (Rodgers & Baird, 2015). The gangs offer affirmation and recognition for the young people; therefore, they subscribe to the activities of the group. The need to maintain a new identity and credit prompts the decision to stay. They feel leaving the gang may result to the loss of identity and the newly acquired position in the community.

Secondly, young people also join gangs for protection. The young people recognize the presence of violent behaviors in the society around them. The feeling that the community may not offer security against violence pushes young people to join gangs (Rodgers & Baird, 2015). Exposure of students to bullying in the school environment and the lack of proper mitigation to intervene prompts the decision to become members of school gangs. The students feel identifying with a group gives them a family who may offer protection against their tormentors.

Additionally, some young people join gangs because of intimidation. Violent activities of gangs result in fear among the members of the community. The threat of violence may push some young people to join the groups. They feel that joining the gangs will make them invincible; thus, they can contribute to the activities - they need to intimidate others also push some people to join groups.

Finally, some young people join gangs for fellowship and brotherhood (Rodgers & Baird, 2015). Where young people feel abandoned and neglected in their home environment, they may opt to join gangs as an extension of the family; therefore, access companionship lacking at home. They stay in the bands because of fear of the unknown and loneliness.

Gender Difference in Gangs

Gangs form when individuals of different gender identities come together to achieve common goals. Initial studies on gang membership and participation focused on males because earlier perception indicated that the males dominated gangs in structure, activities, and hierarchical status. The studies indicated that most violent gang activities resulted from the participation of males. However, recent studies show that female members of gangs also participate in violent crimes. Female gang members have a more disadvantaged background compared to their male counterparts (Kolb & Palys, 2016). They come from broken, unemployed backgrounds with a lot of violence and abuse. While male gang members come from conventional working-class families, female members mostly come from underprivileged families. Again, males need a little compelling to engage in serious offenses. Females need a serious push to initiate violence. Females join gangs because they feel that they do not have other options. Males may join groups despite the availability of a series of choices to engage.

Impact of Gangs within the Community

Gangs form in relatively large communities with a population of over 40,000 people. Participation in gang activities attracts mostly young members of the community. They subscribe to the beliefs of the gang and dedicate their time to the performance of roles (Kolb & Palys, 2016). The city should intervene in gang participation because of the adverse effects on its young population. First, gangs lead to an increased rate of school dropouts by young people. The young people dedicate their time to gang activities and may not have adequate time to study. Gang participation denies community advancement in the education of its young people. It leads to the rise in illiteracy levels; thus, it threatens the general development and growth of the community.

Secondly, gangs promote the rise in petty and violent crimes. The members participate in violence that causes fear and havoc. Fear limits freedom of movement and participation in various activities. Petty and violent crimes committed an act as warning signs to potential investors (Kolb & Palys, 2016). The investors stay away because of fear of attack and destruction of their property; thus, stunted growth in the community. Thirdly, gangs promote victimhood. They encourage suspicion and mistrust among people. They limit legitimate cooperation because of the fear of victimization among individuals. Finally, gang activities help juvenile conviction and incarceration because of the participation of young people. It denies parents the opportunity to interact and bond with their children.

Examples of Gangs from Kern County

Gang activities are prominent in Bakersfield City in Kern County. The city offers a breeding ground with an enabling environment that supports the activities of the gangs. However, city and county officials with the help of security agencies have developed measures to counter the impact of bands such as the Deadly Young Psyclones, Tehachapi 13, Norteno, Southside Delano, Bloods, Oriental Troops, and Varrion Bakers.

References

Kolb, A., & Palys, T. (2016). Homegirls, Hoodrats, and Hos: Co-constructing Gang Status through Discourse and Performance. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 5(4), 29-44.

Rodgers, D., & Baird, A. (2015). Understanding gangs in contemporary Latin America. Handbook of bands and gang responses, 478-502.