Saturday, June 19, 2021

Chicago Gang Members: Complex Identities

 From Inquiries Journal:

By Ava V. Levin
2021, VOL. 13 NO. 05
Abstract:

This paper draws on qualitative interviews to address internal and external identity navigation among gang members and how nonprofits address this navigation. Gang members ultimately lead double lives as they weave between gang and community life. At the same time, community members also engage with gang culture in daily life, as gang membership may be clear while gang and community life are blurred. This dual existence can breed cognitive dissonance, which gang members address through a variety of neutralization techniques that allow them to nevertheless view themselves as moral individuals. Finally, nonprofits working against gun violence should acknowledge this duality and leverage it to create more successful programs for the community.




No comments:

Post a Comment