Why Kids Join Gangs Essays - Crime, Criminology, Gang, Urban Decay

Why Kids Join Gangs A teenage boy puts on his best clothes, shines up his car, and heads for the mall. He finds a couple of young girls and tells them about a cool party. Since there are two of them and only one of him, they feel safe. Not until they are at the party, the security doors locked behind them, do they realize: that they are the only girls there; that the guys are gang members; that they, the girls, are the party; and that there is no way out. Why would any teenage boy choose to have this life of crime? Although the behavior gangs partake in during initiations and even just every day activity sound unbelievable, the fact is that the number of gangs and gang members is growing by the minute. Gangs now operate in all fifty states and in suburban areas as well as the inner city. Some common reasons as to why teenagers choose to join gangs rather than school-related activities are because it fulfills their need to belong, fulfills their need for security, and gives them a way to express their an ger. The most common reason teenagers choose to become part of a gang is to fulfill their desire to belong to something and feel important. If a child doesn't have a sense of belonging in their family, they will try to find it elsewhere. A gang provides that sense of belonging that they may not feel at home or in their community. The child may be from a ?good? family who thinks they belong, but if the child doesn't believe it than it doesn't matter. For example, excessive sibling rivalry can cause a child to feel as though they don't belong. If they don't feel important or as part of a family, they will be drawn toward a gang, which gives the cohesiveness of a family. Also, some teens who choose to join school-related activities when they feel the need to belong sometimes get rejected by these groups. They may try out for a sport or dance corps and not get on the team. This rejection might drive the teen even more to join a gang. This denial lowers the child's sensitive self-esteem, which is a major factor in their life. For example, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs explains that in order for a child to reach their full potential, they first need self-esteem, which they get from having a sense of belongingness. All teenagers have a longing to feel significant and important. However, if they are not feeling this they may be driven to join a group that will accept them, no matter how disastrous the group may be. Another reason why teens decide to join gangs is because of their need for security. This particular need is stronger in females than males, however it is a basic need of both sexes. Security is also one of Maslow's basic needs, just above physical needs which are the basis to the hierarchy. According to Maslow, without security a child will not feel any love and belongingness; which is the first reason as to why kids join gangs. If a child doesn't feel safe and secure, a gang may provide this for them. They feel a greater sense of safety and security by being a part of a group, as opposed to being alone. Rather than becoming isolates having no security whatsoever, teens would be more likely to join a gang where they feel safe and protected by being a part of something greater than themselves. Finally, a gang provides an avenue for teenagers to direct their anger. Anger is one emotion that is generally common in teenagers. Because one common characteristic of gangs is fighting, being a part of a gang provides direction for their anger and actually rewards them for expressing it. For example, initiations for gangs usually involve violent acts. Activities typically include rape, fighting, and/or removal of a victim's body part. After the prospective member performs the violent action they were told to do, they get rewarded for it by becoming an official member of the gang. These violent acts allow a teen to express their pent up anger in ways not normally allowed.

Week 3 Journal Reponse Professor Ramos Blog

Week 3 Journal Reponse Find an article that relates in some way to the things we have been talking about in class. Summarize the article, then respond to it in some way. Explain the argument you believe they are making? Why did you pick it? How does it connect to our class? One paragraph summary of source. One paragraph response to source. Include a link to the text. Should be about 250 words in length. Comment below with your response. Some of the things we have discussed in class this week: Critical Reading Bias MLA and citation The Danger of a Single Story Visuals Rhetoric Revision

Week 6 Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Week 6 Discussion - Assignment Example â€Å"A primary goal of any website or blog should be to provide its visitors with a pleasant and fulfilling experience† (Dailyblogstips). I believe that Wal-Mart should expand into any area of business that will increase its sales activity. The firm has grown so much internationally that it should be willing to provide personalized services such as ship to site services. Wal-Mart is a multinational corporation and the firm should be open to obtaining new clients in new markets by capitalizing on the brand value of the company. My general impression of Wal-Mart’s website is that the company is doing a good job of expanding its business using an e-commerce strategy. In 2010 ecommerce sales generated $152.1 billion in the United States (Plunkett Research). The company has to invest in developing its website to compete with other online retailers in the U.S. and abroad. As the biggest retailer in the world Wal-Mart has to capitalize on its brand value to generate more business from its online