Why kids join gangs

This article summarizes the reasons as to why kids join gangs. The biggest reason being a search for a sense of belonging to a community, for many gang members end up being immigrants or from a poor family. These statements are strongly re-enforced through the textbook Social Problems (p.294) in which it is stated that, teens join gangs due to the few resources available to them just because they grow up in a poor neighborhood. This doesn't mean that gangs wouldn't exist if there weren't any immigrants or poor people for some may just join to find themselves, peer pressure or because they are simply bored. A couple of this reasons are also brought up in the article, followed by support system not just among the community, church but also family for they also play a big role in the teens decision.