Gangs, and Deviance

You think of a group of hoodlums who tote guns, sell drugs, and ruin neighborhoods as thugs, and gang members. These are things not tolerated or seen as good in society so it’s considered a violation of social   norms. A street gang is group of people that form an allegiance based on various social needs and engage in acts that can cause harm to public health and safety. Members of street gangs engage in, or have engaged in gang-focused criminal activity either individually or as a group, they create and fear and intimidation in the community. They are punished by society and the consequences are different depending on the types of crimes committed. Societies “punishments” on the crime committed is what sociologist consider deviance; and when people label someone or a certain group such as gangs they then become deviant. I’m examining the deviance of gangs. America has gotten special forces such as the f.b.i and others to track down gang members, track gang activities, and cracked down on the drug game which was mostly ran by gangs in some areas so there should be no controversy over a gangs activity being deviant. There are foreign countries such as some arab or muslim races who have gangs, like the al-qaeda who terrorize places and nothing is done by the country that they’re in. People say that gangs are becoming more and more deviant as the generations continue go on. Gangs that violate social norms will always be considered deviant in any society be cause everyone feel terrorized and want them out for their own safety.   The gang activity seen today has grew gradually from the gangs that started in the 1920’s. Street gangs in the U.S. arose with Italian immigrants related to the Sicilian Mafia and others. These street gangs in New York City stole and killed to get what they wanted. One of the most famous street gang members was Al Capone, who later moved to Chicago in 1919 to help keep the other gangsters in order. Street gangs of this type were quite popular in... [continues]

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