Girls in Gangs Documentary and The Queen of Philly
After watching Girls in Gangs Documentary and The Queen of Philly, one can conclude that there are vital underlying issues that prompt women to join gangs. The first has to do with social aspects such as poor home life, need for social interactions and the search for identity. For instance, poor urban areas are featured with gangs borne out of family dysfunctions emanating from sexual and physical abuse. Young girls who lack a loving family structure tend to seek it outside the home with the hope of finding a surrogate family who offers a sense in familial relationships. The loyalty developed in the “new” family is important to gang members as it is the basis of forming involvements and commitments to satisfy a socialization void.
In their search for identity, women find themselves in gangs for fun and friendship. They join social organizations that offer social networks and friendships that seem to meet their need for affiliation and achievement. Secondly, women join gangs due to financial reasons. Considering the modern capitalistic civilization, joining a gang is a means of survival. Most women involved in drug trafficking view it as a remedy to welfare and poverty. The business aspect of drug dealing is a profoundly potent nemesis as it gives gang members the capacity to become social institutions. Interestingly, social class plays a role in this when the underclass provides potential applicants to join gangs as a way of mobilizing against a struggle such as despair and poverty.
Lastly, women join gangs for the sake of protection. Girls living in the ghetto or urban areas are often exposed to violent encounters that push them to seek refuge in an immediate neighborhood. Some engage in violent activities to protect their territory which is an economic base where their rights to engage in criminal behaviors are reserved and because it is a symbol of gang integrity.