One of the Guys Girls, Gangs, and Gender

by Miller, Jody

• ISBN13: 9780195130782
• ISBN10: 0195130782
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-26
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

One of the Guys: Girls, Gangs, and Gender examines the causes, nature, and meaning of female gang involvement. Miller situates the study of female gang membership in the context of current directions in feminist scholarship and research on both gangs and female criminal offenders. Unique inits approach, this book is a comparative study that examines both gang members and nongang members to provide an accurate picture of the nature of gang life. The author draws on interviews from two contrasting cities, St. Louis, Missouri and Columbus, Ohio. While both cities have relatively new ganghistories, their socioeconomic conditions are notably different. The book opens with a foreword written by Malcolm W. Klein, a leading authority on youth gangs. Miller examines how and why girls join gangs; the nature of girls' involvement in gangs; how gang involvement shapes girls' participationin delinquency and their risk of victimization; and the ways in which gender affects their gang experience. Miller concludes by drawing out implications for gender and crime and the study of female lawbreaking. Written in a lively and personal style, One of the Guys: Girls, Gangs, and Genderincludes rich, extensive interviews offering fascinating excerpts from the girls themselves. Miller examines these dialogues in order to explore gender identities within gangs. One of the Guys: Girls, Gangs, and Gender is an ideal text for courses which focus on juvenile delinquency, women andcrime, gang activity, and female lawbreaking.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Acknowledgments	xiii
Perspectives on Gangs and Gender	1	(17)
Studying in ``New'' Gang Cities	18	(17)
Getting into Gangs	35	(29)
Gangs and Gang Life in Columbus	64	(28)
Gangs and Gang Life in St. Louis	92	(31)
Rod K. Brunson
Niquita Vinyard
Gangs, Delinquency, and Violence	123	(28)
Gender and Victimization in Gangs	151	(27)
Gender Strategies in Youth Gangs	178	(21)
Conclusion	199	(6)
Appendix	205	(2)
Notes	207	(38)
References	245	(14)
Index	259