ESTRANGEMENT, MACHISMO AND GANG VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 61611
• Journal: Social Science Quarterly Volume: 60 Issue: 2 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 235-248
• Author(s): H S ERLANGER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: University of Texas Press
• Sale Source: Institute for Scientific Information
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE STUDY, USING OPEN-ENDED INTERVIEWS, EXPLORES THE SUBCULTURE-OF-VIOLENCE THESIS IN RELATION TO GANGS IN EAST LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

Abstract

THE SUBCULTURE-OF-VIOLENCE THESIS SEES VALUES RELATING TO VIOLENCE AS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT CAUSAL ROLE IN THE GENERATION OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. IT IS ARGUED THAT SUBCULTURAL VALUES DEFINE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND STIMULI THAT APPROPRIATELY PHYSICAL AGGRESSION, ESPECIALLY ON THE PART OF YOUNG BLACK AND HISPANIC MALES. WITHIN THE SUBCULTURE, FAILURE TO RESPOND VIOLENTLY TO PHYSICAL OR VERBAL CHALLENGE MAY LEAD TO NEGATIVE SANCTIONS, WHILE VIOLENT RESPONSE TO SUCH CHALLENGES IS SUPPORTED, ENCOURAGED, AND AT TIMES DIRECTLY REQUIRED. FACTORS CONSIDERED IN THIS STUDY OF CHICANO 'BARRIOS' IN EAST LOS ANGELES INCLUDE THE IMPORTANCE OF MACHISMO (MANLINESS), THE POLITICAL CONDITIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF ESTRANGEMENT TO POLITICAL ACTION AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THE INTERPRETATIONS OF THIS STUDY ARE BASED ON MORE THAN 35 OPEN-ENDED INTERVIEWS, TWO-THIRDS WITH CHICANO MALES AGED 15 TO 30 CAME WHO CAME FROM MANY DIFFERENT GANGS. THE REMAINING RESPONDENTS WERE PERSONS WELL ACQAINTED WITH THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS POLICE AND PROBATION OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM DIRECTORS. THE ONLY TIME WITHIN THE MEMORY OF THOSE INTERVIEWED IN WHICH THERE WAS A VIABLE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS COURAGE AND DIGNITY OUTSIDE THE GANG SETTING WAS DURING THE MOVEMENT PERIOD OF LATE 1967 THROUGH EARLY 1972. DURING THIS TIME, IDENTITY WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY BECAME PRIMARY AND A SENSE OF POWER TO INFLUENCE THE INSTITUTIONS AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY EMERGED. AS A RESULT, GANG-RELATED VIOLENCE DECREASED MARKEDLY. AS A SENSE OF ESTRANGEMENT FROM A COMMUNITY IDENTITY RETURNED, GANG VIOLENCE INCREASED. THESE INTERPRETATIONS SUGGEST THAT VIOLENCE MAY NOT FLOW FROM VALUES THAT DIRECTLY ENCOURAGE IT, BUT MAY INSTEAD OCCUR WHEN STRUCTURAL CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENT ACHIEVEMENT OF RELATED VALUES; IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN JUVENILE BEHAVIOR, THEORIES OF DEVIANCE SHOULD BE LINKED TO THEORIES OF POWER AND ITS DISTRIBUTION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)