Female Gangs - Research Paper Example

However, researches in the past two decades by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) indicate that the existence of female gangs can be traced back to the 1800s (Moore & Hagedorn, 2012). Their roles have evolved from being alibis, sex toys, drugs and weapon holders to full gang membership. Studies have been conducted on gangs because gangs are of social concern. This paper will research on and discuss female gangs in three aspects. First, it will discuss the origin of female gangs and what drives females into forming or joining gangs.

Secondly, it will discuss different types of female gangs and thirdly, how they play into male gangs. Although some of the earlier generalizations about female gangs still apply, there have been tremendous changes in their activities with their growing numbers. The OJJDP noted a police report from Boston that described a female gang as a growingly autonomous organization that plans and commits crime without any help from males (Moore & Hagedorn, 2012). It was feared that in Boston young girls were quickly adopting gang life rituals in the early 1990s.

To integrate into gangs or form their own, females imitate the behaviors of male gangs (Moore & Hagedorn, 2012). In a bid to be like the males, they coordinate and take part in criminal activities, wear tattoos and clothing related to gangs. They borrow characteristics and styles of the dominant male gangs including patterns of violence, preferred weapons and use of graffiti to pass a message or declare their existence and presence in neighborhoods. Becoming a member is either by choice or forced initiation (Moore & Hagedorn, 2012).

Forced initiation is in the form of being jumped-in by gang members. On the other hand, females who opt into gangs by choice offer themselves to be used sexually by gang members in exchange of climbing up the hierarchy. However, those who are