Description
Book SynopsisFor eighteen months, Timothy R. Lauger interviewed and observed a mix of fifty-five gang members, former gang members, and non-gang street offenders. Through this research, Lauger is able to understand and explain the reasons for gang membership, including a chaotic family life, poverty, and the need for violent self-assertion in order to foster the creation of a personal identity.
Trade Review"Lauger's book, a nuanced excavation of everyday gang life, is required reading for anyone interested in gangs and how they function. It is a considerable achievement." -- Simon Hallsworth * University Campus Ipswich, UK *
"Lauger's unique theoretical orientation makes for a compelling, highly readable, and engaging analysis of the gang field." -- Jody Miller * One of the Guys: Girls, Gangs, and Gender *
Table of ContentsGangs and their environments
Joining a gang
The dilution narrative: an understanding that some gang members are not "real"
The paradox of legitimacy
Known in Naptown
Teenage gossip and the presentation of self
The violent encounter
Hope, intervention, and tragedy
Appendix: Researching gangs
