By: Susanna Lee
E-mail: lees@student.ucr.edu

Gang Culture has increasingly become a subculture for many teenage youths. Main minority teens, these social outcast are often have no real economic stability and no parental supervision or guidance. As a result, teenagers often rebel and seek comfort in gangs. These gangs provide what is lacking in their lives, a sense of belonging. Minorities are often stereotyped and criticized, especially minorities born into poverty. They are condemned simply because they are not of the same race or of the same class as the majority (often middle class whites). Before these minorities can even prove themselves equal, society already pushes them towards the subculture that has risen out of oppression …show more content…

Adolescence is the most crucial time to shape a young mind. When the world is against them during these times, many minority teens tend to easily stray from the right path and enter into the wrong crowd. Gangs have become a growing trend, a perfect outlet for many troubled youths. They feel that they have nothing to life for so instead they live for their gangs. Although gang members are typically inner city minority teenagers, there are still many "wannabes" that are attracted to this gang culture. With the growing number gang associated "Rap/Hip Hop Stars", many middle class white children just want to be part of the crowd. Many of them just to show off their ability keep up with the fast moving trend of society. Although middle-class gangsters challenge the social norms of economic class, these gangsters reinforce the importance of parental support and guidance. Teenagers are always trying to rebel against their parents. When the home is not stable, gangs become the perfect outlet for troubled teens. Gangs are also thought of as ultimate rebellion against parents and society so teens find the life of a gangster extremely appealing. However, suburban gangsters fail to realize the real danger of being in a gang member. Unlike inner-city gangs, living in the projects has not hardened middle-class gang members unlike their counterparts. Instead, these gang members