Done

Youth violence has become a constant norm in our society. Our children, mostly between the age of 13 and 21 years, are getting astray from a very tender age by becoming the targets, getting attracted, and joining violent groups in the name of street gangs. These have increased the rate of crimes across the United States, and there has been an insatiable need to understand why our young people prefer to engage in this violence. This paper will discuss some of the reasons behind such choices, including the attractiveness of these gang groups, social, cultural, and economic forces(Stark, 2019).

First, most of the children who join criminal gangs are from low-income neighborhoods. These communities lack the majority of opportunities to engage in and fulfill their basic need. The communities have less or lack economic projects to provide them with employment, and those available are highly demanding in terms of skills and education. Many of the youths in those neighborhoods do not have prerequisite education required to gain meaningful employment and thus left majorly unemployed. The schools in their neighborhoods remain underfunded, offering minimal value to learners; thus, many drop out, unlike their rich counterparts schools. This leaves a lot of free time to the youths; hence they seek gang involvement to alleviate this boredom. The only opportunity that presents is for them to join gangs for their survival as well as provide support to their families. They engage in the sale of illegal substance including drugs which accounts for about 40% of total crimes, vandalize other people properties, assault, rob and sometimes kill all in the attempt to improve their economic outlook. The economically deprived youths feel discriminated against, and they see the background of their problems associated with their rich counterparts and are thus willing to do anything to punish them. This makes them join criminal movements(Hesketh, 2019).

Also, the high prevalence of criminal gangs in their impoverished neighborhood adds to their joining probability. They are influenced by their close family members, friends, and community members. They see them making faster money with less hustle, leading better lives, and having a higher social status, making them consider joining as a rational choice to make. They can thus take any risk to achieve this delight as the nine to five jobs seem financially unpromising(Stark, 2019).

Also, youths may join gangs for protection, together with their family members. As insecurity rises with increased violent gang-related activities, they may not have any other option as areas like impoverished neighborhoods; the state cannot be trusted with offering security. Joining gangs shields them from bullies perpetrated by their colleagues and some powerful society members. Evidence shows that many gang members lack a father figure who can give them protection. They also leverage their gang involvement in bullying and intimidating others for prestige, knowing that they have guaranteed protection. They can do anything to get recognized in the society even instilling fear and terror(Kerry, 2019).

Also, parents have become less involved with their children's affairs. The economic hardships have left them chasing for financial liberation, thereby disenfranchising many homes. The home environment has turned and becomes devoid of companionship, which children crave for and requires. This makes them seek this love and compassion in the gang functions. After all, their other siblings and friends are already inside those gangs. The peer pressure mounts high on them and is left without a choice. Sometimes even friends demand them to join these groups, or else they devour their relationships. The breakup of societal bonds has left many youths with serious psychological problems, low self-esteem, depression, and other conditions. They thus turn to crime as a means to handle these negative eventualities of their lives. It has been shown that children who have gone through and experienced more than seven hazards before their age of 13 are many times prone to engage in gang-related activities than other counterparts. Also, these hazards make them engage and use drugs that they can be guaranteed continuous access by becoming gangsters(Hesketh, 2019).

In conclusion, ou children are getting swallowed into the world of crime. These eventualities can be explained from both economic and financial perspectives as they seek companionship, acceptance, protection, higher social status and respect, happiness, financial support, among others. The society has been at the front to respond to this violence rather than find a corrective action. This has only made the problem worse, and the root source of these decisions needs urgent redress. The parents need to bring back order in their homes by guiding their children towards the right path and becoming excellent role models. The economic, education and employment segression that has been a norm over the years needs to end so that more meaningful opportunities can be availed to all the residents of the wonderful country, The United States. Psychosocial support should be part of the community, and school programs and community should all lead this young generation in following values for the good and benefit of the entire humanity(Kerry, 2019).

References

Hesketh, R. (2019, November 4). Why do young people join gangs? Members explain the appeal of risk-taking. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/why-do-young-people-join-gangs-members-explain-the-appeal-of-risk-taking-120844

Kerry, J. (2019, June 17). Why do youth join gangs? Retrieved from https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/jjbulletin/9808/why.html

Stark, E. (2019). Everything you need to know about street gangs (3rd ed.). The Rosen Publishing Group.