1. Gangs

2. What is a Gang?
A group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose, AND/OR who engage in violent, unlawful, or criminal behavior.
Based on the definition, is a gang always bad?
When do gangs become bad?

3. Why do teens join gangs? Friendship Peer Pressure A sense of belonging
Identity
Something to do
Feeling of power
Excitement
Money
Protection

4. Why teens join gangs?, continued…
Isolation
Poverty
Minority status
Lack of jobs
Revenge on society
Sense of self-worth
Fear of failure
Fear of rejection-(when you try to join in, you are shut out)

5. One major reason teens join gangs is because they are lonely.
Feeling Lonely Means:
Not feeling like a part of any group, large or small
Feeling “left out”
Overlooked when wanting to be included

6. Feeling lonely and being alone do not mean the same thing.
Being Alone Means:
Choosing to be alone
Relaxing, reflecting and thinking
It is ok to be alone sometimes

7. If you feel lonely, ask yourself these questions…
Am I choosing to be alone?
What can I do to enjoy this time alone?
Is this because something I did, or failed to do?
What am I afraid of?
What are things I can do to become included?
Sit with new people
Talk to new people
Develop social skills
Let process develop naturally, don’t rush it
Join organizations, clubs etc.

8. Probable Consequences of Joining Gangs
Jail and Prison
Wounded or killed
Hurt or kill others
Make little money
Cause great family trauma
Lose family ties
Drop out of school
Close off other opportunities for future options

9. Types of Young People Recruited to Gangs
Little adult participation in lives
Poor self-image
Low self-esteem
Misdirected racial pride
Not discouraged from joining

10. Primary Stage HOW DO GANGS START? Occasional misdemeanor Graffiti
Social Club
Imitate dress and demeanor of established gangs

11. Secondary Stage Established More graffiti Anti-social Behavior
Confrontations
Law enforcement involved
Weapons
Family and school visited less frequently

12. Advanced Stage Most participate in crimes Arrest records
Gang is most important- more than family or community
Dependent on drugs
Loss of hope
No job, education or skills developed

13. First Level of Involvement
Peripheral Members
Wannabes
Clothing
Language
Hand Signs

14. Second Level of Involvement
Associate Members
Clothing
Tattoos
Violent
Strive to build reputation

15. Third Level of Involvement
Hardcore Members
Leaders
Most violent
Get others to commit crimes

16. Clues to the Presence of Gangs in Communities or Neighborhoods
Graffiti near neighborhood or school
Crossed out graffiti
Colors
Matching clothing
Hand signs

17. Clues, continued… Drugs Increase in confrontations and stare-downs
Weapons
Home or car burglaries
Drive by shootings
Display of weapons
Truancy rate increasing
Racial incidents

18. What is a Clique? A small, select group of friends or associates
Sometimes they are exclusive-(they don’t accept new members)
Cliques aren’t always bad-they can provide very close and meaningful friendships-the problem starts when cliques become exclusive
Cliques are temporary groups! It is not worth trying to change yourself or your values to try and “fit-in”

19. Classic 80’s Cliques The Jocks
This crowd consisted of the athletic people in any school. Most of them prayed for scholarships if they wanted to go onto college. Most that didn’t get them, ended up working in less than glamorous jobs. Jocks generally had their own events, (athletic in nature of course), and could be seen at most Popular Group functions as well.

20. The Losers
These were generally the type of people who were rebelling against any authority figure they could. They generally spent their time cutting classes, and had awful academic performance. They rarely were invited to parties, but were known to show up anyway. They sometimes threw their own, but mostly they would just find a good hiding place for small drinking parties for the members of their own group.

21. The Nerds
Also known as “The Geeks.” Mostly filled with students of higher academic pursuits. Some in this group could actually move into other groups, such as the Popular Group or The Jocks, but would still be labeled as part of the Nerd Group. Generally their outward appearance set them off from the rest of any group since they were never dressed quite like the rest of the groups.

22. The Outcasts
Generally someone who didn’t dress like everyone else was dressing, and had little fashion sense would fall into this group. This was the group with the most artistic inclinations and tended to be the type of people who weren’t really interested in going to a party. This group usually remained low key and could almost go unnoticed. Unlike The Nerds, this group didn’t require academic performance to be of high standards. Usually, these members fell into the middle of the road academically.

23. The Popular Group
This was generally the crowd that came from middle and upper class families and consisted of people who generally were well liked by most groups except those that they came in direct contact with. Generally, they gravitated towards the jocks when it came to invites for parties, and some people were generally considered to be members of both groups.

24. The Rappers
As rap music gained popularity, so did the manner of speaking surrounding them. Mostly, fans of rap music could be found talking like this in everyday speech.

25. The Skaters
Typically this is someone who actually skates. Emphasis is used on the word “dude” often. Slang is mostly skating related. Depending on the region of the country and their attention to clothing, they could be considered a subset of other groups as well.

26. The Surfers
Typically, this is someone who actually surfs. Mostly limited to California or other areas with a beach. Generally considered to be a subset of the Loser Group since their academic standing was sub-par due to excessive hang time on the beach.

27. The Valley Girls
Usually those girls limited to the “Valley” in California. However, teenagers across the country began imitating the group. The word “like’ is often repeated and has several different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

28. Are you in a clique?
If so, is it an exclusive clique that excludes others? Or, is it a positive group of encouraging friends?
Do you sometimes feel trapped or “boxed in” because of your association in that clique? How can you change that to let others see the “real you”?