Making Sense of Girls and Gangs

‘Girls’ involvement in gangs has been neglected, sexualised and oversimplified’
Secondly, it reflects on the growing media fascination in girl gang members, and suggest that we are witnessing a contemporary moral panic with the emergence of a new ‘cluster’ of folk devils, namely violent female working-class girls, which Girls Join Gangs

Gang members join a gang by either committing a crime or undergoing an initiation procedure wherein fellow gang members to test their courage beat them and fighting ability.
Identity or Recognition – Being part of a gang allows the gang member to achieve a level of status he/she feels impossible outside the gang culture.

Protection – many members join because they live in the gang area and are, therefore, subject to violence by rival gangs. Joining guarantees support in case of attack and retaliation for transgressions.
For the last 4 years, our organization has been working with school and young girls that the school have identified that these young girls may have the potential to join gangs or in a gang.
Our organisation works with the schools to training and supports these young girls to become ambassadors in their schools and in the community.