When people think about a gang, they imagine a cohort of young brutal and tattooed men. However, there are numerous female gangs which are very similar to male ones. Females get involved in similar offense including arsons, theft, robbery, murder, and so on (Female prison gangs, n.d.). Female gangs bear all traces of male gangs as there is also certain culture, beliefs, and codes of conduct. Women who violate the law tend to find themselves in custody very soon. It may be surprising, but females often choose behaviors patterns which are common in male prisons.
Nonetheless, there are no recorded prison gangs in the USA. Some researchers believe this is because females think differently. However, this explanation seems too abstract and requires certain consideration. It is not enough to state that females think differently, as it is a fact. It is more important to see in what areas they think differently. I believe there are no prison gangs as women see themselves as torn from the rest of their world and try to keep the connection.
Admittedly, several members of a gang may sometimes be caught. However, the chance they will be placed in the same prison is very slim. Hence, females are taken from their gang and put into another environment. Men try to unite and form new gangs or join an existing prison gang to behave in a way they are accustomed to. Nonetheless, women are more concerned with their former connections. Even if they develop some relationship, this may be a homosexual partnership which helps them cope with issues they face. Women seek support, conciliation, and a chance to turn back to their world rather than try to form a new gang.
This is also connected with females’ attitude towards their street gangs. A member of a gang stresses that her gang is her second family, which is more important for her than the first one (Female prison gangs, n.d.). This girl likes her mother, but she still puts the gang above all. It is possible to assume that the gang is seen as the family. The girl emphasizes that she can never leave her family. This may be the reason why females do not create prison gangs as this would mean certain kind of betrayal of their family. Thus, they try to keep communicating with members of their family and focus on their reunion.
Another element of females’ different thinking and alienation from the prison world is related to motherhood. Females often get to know that they are pregnant when in custody. Admittedly, this medical condition affects their behavior and often makes women focused on their baby/babies. Notably, there still can be violent fights among pregnant females, but women in this medical condition try to be more cautious and avoid fights. More so, pregnant females are often placed in specific blocks and maybe in separate cells. This helps females alienate themselves from the rest.
In conclusion, it is possible to state that there are no female prison gangs as female inmates feel connected to the non-prison world and seek for leaving the place. Women do not create or join new gangs as they are too loyal to their stress gangs, which are seen as their families. Such medical condition as pregnancy may facilitate this process of alienation.
Reference List
Female prison gangs. (n.d.). Web.