Introduction
“Gangs an Individual and Group Perspective” by Kimberly Tobin gives us a perfect picture of the salient qualitative and quantitative features which exist in the gangs. I agree with the author as she fuses gang research in her book into such a format that is not only reasonable but also provides us with a sense of equilibrium between rigor and clarity.
Kimberly Tobin clearly distinguishes between gang members and actual gangs as this is highlighting the difference that exists among the perspectives of the groups and individuals, thus, encouraging a better understanding of the gangs. Kimberly Tobin introduces us through the book to the prominent gang literature which exists in society even today thus, allowing the readers to view the connection between street gangs and prison gangs, thus enabling us to understand their characteristics.
Definition
I do agree with the writer since this book introduces the readers to the youth gangs and this knowledge is very important when we are directly or indirectly dealing with a gang or its members. Through this book, we understand the impacts of the gang problem, their social problems, criminology, and wrongdoings. Kimberly Tobin first introduces us to the basics of gangs in the USA by giving us a timeline that rages from the 19th century to the present day.
The way the author has explored the magnitude of modern-day problems due to these gangs paints a true picture, thus, aptly introducing us to the demographic features of the gangs. The author is justified in saying that the meaning of the term gang keeps on changing with time and originated in the USA mainly because of industrialization, immigration, and urbanization. The immigrating groups were poor and severely discriminated, which is still the reason for the formation of gangs today, increasing their criminal inclinations. It is true that although the nature of the gangs has changed, drastically, the basics remain the same even in the 21st century.
Kimberly Tobin has appropriately deduced that modern-day gangs consist of mainly Hispanic and Black males, with a background of poverty and they live in urban areas. Recently there has also been an increase in the number of female gang members and also in the age range of these suburban gang members. Other ethnic groups, like the American Indians and Asians, and even the Whites have seen an increase in the membership of the groups.
I completely agree with the writer that for many generations the gang cities have constantly had several problems while the rising ones have recently started to face problems. Society and communities of the USA consider these gangs a menace causing social problems and thus, only by understanding the dynamics of these gangs and the experiences of these gang members can the nation develop its programs and policies effectively and keep its citizens informed. This is what Kimberly Tobin tries to achieve through this book.
Explanations
Kimberly Tobin continues to strengthen our foundation and understanding of modern gangs by giving us their true picture. The definition that she provides us on gangs, their memberships, and crimes committed is absolutely accurate. These definitional matters which develop while discussing gangs have been handled quite precisely since I agree to the fact that even though the word gang appears in a derogatory form, for the members of a gang this word makes them feel proud about themselves.
They use the word not only to identify themselves but also as defiance. Kimberly Tobin is correct in saying that the present debate that exists concerning the matter of definitions should challenge the practitioners and institutions so that they further develop properly reasoned theories and policies on the knowledge gathered on these gangs and gang members. Although there are certain controversies and inconsistencies in the knowledge acquired on these gangs, a lot is known about the experiences and backgrounds of these gang bangers.
Kimberly Tobin has cited a very significant fact about these gangs that they support an individual yet the aberrant system of values and they collectively represent these universal values of theirs. The author is completely accurate when she says that these gangs use these aberrant values and their collective actions not only to distinguish themselves and ascertain that they are different from the other groups but also to establish their identity as a group. Their gang determines their fundamental character.
Kimberly Tobin even gives us an accurate explanation for the formation of these gangs and also her theories on the common characteristic features of these gangs in certain areas are completely agreeable. She presents these common characteristics of the gangs in a theoretical framework that includes underclass, social disorganization, and strain theories and fits completely in their existence. I agree with the author that the underclass theory is the most important of these as it precisely tells us the basic reason for the formation of these gangs. The author says that among the characteristics that are similar among several gangs are ethnicity, economy, and institutional effectiveness.
These gangs have a very different relationship with the communities and society as a whole and since the members generally come from the lower classes, disorganization and ineffectiveness in their perspectives are evident. Further, due to urbanization in the USA, the difference between its urban and poor population and the other parts of the nation has been heightened. Disorganized communities arise and the organized communities have to face the gang problem due to such an ineffectiveness of society. When society becomes incapable of offering these disorganized communities anything, gangs are formed as a replacement option. Thus, Kimberly Tobin is justified in saying that the formation of gangs and economic problems are interconnected.
Conclusion
In “Gangs an Individual and Group Perspective”, Kimberly Tobin has aptly revealed to us that it is true that various macro-level theories have also contributed to the understanding of gang literature. Each of these theories contributes in its own way to our basic perception about these gangs and suggests numerous effects which society and communities have on these gangs. The author is justified in citing the thrasher’s theory as it identifies community to be the weaker connection in the gang literature as it is unable to play the role of a supervisor it is supposed to.
Kimberly Tobin says that the strain theories visualize communities and society having a value system while gangs to be aberrant adaptation but Miller recognizes the present conflict between values of society and communities. I completely agree with the author that gangs demonstrate the local value system and these gangs exist due to problems in the communities which exist, to a large part, because of societal neglect.
References
Tobin, K. (2007). Gangs: An Individual and Group Perspective. New York: Pearson/Prentice Hall.