in today's cities. What has made these groups come about?

Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and

prestigious way to live? The long range answer to these

questions can only be speculated upon, but in the short term

the answers are much easier to find. On the surface, gangs

are a direct result of human beings' personal wants and peer

pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence we

must find the way that these morals are given to the individual.

Unfortunately, these can only be hypothesized. However, by

looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I believe

there is good evidence to point the blame at several

institutions. These include the forces of the media, the

government, theatre, drugs and our economic system.

On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and

greed. Many teens in gangs will pressure peers into becoming

part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous. Money is also

an crucial factor. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a

member) is shown that s/he could make $200 to $400 for small

part time gang jobs. Although these are important factor

Although this accomplishes little it is a big factor in gang

and pressure to conform to the same must be stopped.

violence becomes more acceptable is the influence of television

in an attitude that motivates the person to base his/her life

the Bronx or the very worst case, Compton, children will no

are not strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly

kid and the gang is completed because the gang has effectively

goes on, a form of love or kinship develops between the gang

for citizens in the area. Less that 40% of drive-by's kill

propoganda from the gangs. Gang members will say that no one

sort of gang is usually common of middle or upper class people

of time. Many shows on television today are extremely violent

of love. Parents can often feel that putting food on the table

Some common words found in the essay are:
Clockwork Orange, Gangs- Gangs, Marshall Clinard, Justifies Means', Merton Nisbet, Guardian Angels, Hoyte Williams, Wisconsin Wisconsin, World York, Chicago Chicago, peer pressure, bad guy, gang violence, makes life, join gang, street gangs, joining gang, gang situation, surface gangs, marshall clinard,
Approximate Word count = 1696
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)