Gang members play an important role in neighborhoods and violence around the world. We know a lot about boys and men who join gangs, but what about girls and women? Why do they join gangs? What do they do? And why do they get out? An article in the journal Crime & Delinquency brings answers to these gang related questions and highlights the role of women and girls in gang violence, gang culture, and gang life.
Table of Contents
Why do Girls and young Women join Gangs?
In order to find out more about the role of women in gangs, the researchers in this study interviewed young women who were gang members in both LA and in Glasgow, Scotland. The women were anywhere from about 16 years old to their early forties.
The first question that the researchers answer is why girls and young women join gangs in the first place? What are their motivations for this? All of the women who were interviewed grew up in families that were characterized by a lot of disadvantage, like poverty, domestic violence, drug addiction, absent fathers, and neglect. At an early age, these women had to learn how to survive in difficult circumstances, and one of the ways to do this was for them to join a gang.
How do Women enter the Gang?
The women tended to enter gangs in one of two ways. The first group of women entered the gang at a low level. These women had no real status to begin with in the gang. They entered because of the problems in their family life; they saw the gang members in their neighborhood as a replacement for their family. Some of these women were in financial debt or had a relationship with a gang member. Because these women had no status in the gang, they had to prove themselves worthy by going through some kind of initiation ritual, meaning that they either had to endure some type of physical violence or had sex with one of the gang members. Because they had low status in the gang from the beginning, it was difficult for them to attain status later on.
The second group of women were brought into the gang by family members because they were seen as skilled and valuable new members of the gang. These women have higher status upon entering the gang and also enjoy more support within the gang than the first group of women. As a consequence of this, they don’t have to go through an official initiation ritual. Their higher status in the gang also means that their way to the top, meaning the higher gang ranks, is shorter.
What do Women do in the Gangs?
The activities that women carry out in the gangs differ surprisingly between LA and Scotland. Where in Scotland, the women carry out more traditional female roles and tasks, this is not the case in LA. In LA, the women engage in regular “male” gang activities, such as robberies, violence between gangs, and car theft. Compared to the males in the gang, however, the women feel that they have to work harder than the men to be accepted in the gang.
A common activity for the women in both LA and Scotland is to be involved in the drug supply. Most of the women are involved in low-level activities in drug supply, like dealing on the streets, renting homes out for drug storage, or being a runner.
How do they handle being Female in Gang Life?
The women are very aware of the gender imbalance in the gang and of their role as a woman. In many cases, they view being female as a disadvantage in gang life. Women are taken less seriously, and they have to be more careful than males in the gang to give orders, especially to men. Although some women make it to the top in the gang ranks, in many cases, women are seen as being of lower status than men because of their gender. For example, they do not have direct access to finances, even when they play an important role in the drug business. But in other cases, women are able to use their gender to their advantage. For example, when caught by the police, they emphasize how they’re victims and exploited in the gang.
Gang Violence
Sometimes, being a woman can even be seen as an advantage because women are less focused on violence. Male drug dealers in the gang are often focused on how to maintain status and get respect from others and, therefore, easily get into fights when disrespected. This has the potential to lead to all sorts of trouble, such as being arrested by the police and being distracted from business. Women do not have these problems as much.
Leaving the Gang and Violence behind
There are several factors that play a role when women leave the gang. An example is seeing fellow gang members die or becoming weary of the lifestyle. But ultimately, becoming a mother turned out to be the most important reason why the women in the study left the gang. Having children made them realize that they had to change something. They didn’t want their kids to have the same life and to become a gang member or be in danger.
Women in Gang Culture and Gang Violence: Summing Up
All in all, it looks like women’s position in gangs can be complicated, that they have to be mindful of their gender, but that they also sometimes use being a woman to their advantage. One of the critical factors for a woman’s life, tasks, and status in the gang is the way they enter the gang. When they’re in debt, are looking for a new “family”, or have to participate in an initiation ritual, they will enjoy only low status in the gang. On the other hand, when they’re brought in by family members who feel that they are skillful and can contribute something, they have a stronger position and can also rise more easily in the ranks of the gang.
Resources for Gang Knowledge
Deuchar, R., Harding, S., McLean, R., & Densley, J. A. (2018). Deficit or Credit? A Comparative, Qualitative Study of Gender Agency and Female Gang Membership in Los Angeles and Glasgow. Crime & Delinquency, 0011128718794192.
