SOC421H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Juvenile Delinquency, B-Boying, Gangster Disciples
Hagedorn “ How do gangs get started”
• Rather than looking at how gangs
What we know about how 1980’s gangs began
• Most of the task force reports or media articles have either failed to mention how small
city Midwestern gangs got started or attribute gang origins to migrating gang members
from a nearby big city
• Local accounts talk about gangs moving from big cities like Chicago and starting satellite
gangs
• Some accounts strain credibility
• Many people suggest that gangs are caused by “outside agitators”, influenced from gangs
in larger cities
o But there is a lack of research proving this
• The solution to the outside agitator situation would be to track big city gang member or
treat gangs as organized crime and incarcerate anyone admitting gang involvement
Thrasher and subculturalists
• Much of the literature on gangs explains the origins of gangs with juvenile delinquency
and gangs are seen as a law violating group
o Caused by the media, law enforcement, and some sociologists
• Lack of an analysis on the origin of gangs and they instad focus on gangs as a
consequence of a subculture that enforces delinquent norms
• Thrasher seens gang formation as a response to a disorganized community
• Gangs are unique and the origin of gangs are spontaneous
• Gangs begin as a play group according to Thrasher
• Gangs fade over time and are replaced by new ethnic gangs
Breakdancing and fighting: 1980-1983
• Influence from Chicago gangs accounted for only a small part of the reasons for
Milwaukee’s gang development
• Causes for gang formation included
o Dance
o Friends who became a gang after a fight with other corner groups
▪ Named themselves after the place where they hung out
o Roots from Chicago or other cities where old previous gang members moved into
the city and their children formed gangs after their old gang
• Each path may also be mixed together
• Most of the gangs were started by 13- 16 year olds
• Breakdancing and drilling were the main social activities of thousands of black and
Hispanic youth
• The transition from dancing groups to gangs came as fights broke out after dancing
competitions
• But not all dance groups transform into gangs
• Partying was also a reason for naming yourself
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