FEMALE TEENAGERS COMING TOGETHER : GROUPS OR GANGS?

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the push-pull factors that contribute to female teenagers joining a gang in Singapore, in the context of their family and social systems. The other issues that are examined include the gang dynamics, the pros and cons of peer gang affiliation, the aspirations and interest of these girls. The hierarchy and roles of members in the gang, its activities, gang norms and function of the gang are also discussed. In this study, all the girls studied are school-going youths. Six cases studies between the ages of 15 to 17 years old were chosen from the Probation and Aftercare Unit at the Ministry of Community Development. Three questionnaires: (i) the Aggression Questionnaire, (ii) MacArthur Community Violence Instrument, and (iii) the Purpose-in-Life test, were used to gauge proclivity towards violence, actual violence committed, and future aspiration of the girls respectively. A semi-structured interview measured qualitative data. Results show that female gang members join gangs for many reasons: protection from other gangs, revenge; fun and excitement, companionship and so on. They usually come from families with multiple conflicts and lack supervision at home. Their peers are usually involved in gangs which partly influences their decision to join the gang; and they are unaware of existing youth organisations or the programmes and activities offered by them. All of the girls preferred to seek their friends rather than their parents for advice and/or help. Current gang interventions available, implications of the findings through which some recommendations are made, limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed towards the end of the study.