Gangs have been a part of popular culture since the dawn of time. Everyone can agree that any gang-related activity and crime is against the law, but people continue to join them regardless for various reasons. From research, people join gangs because they need a desire for protection. In addition to that, they join gangs for financial gain. Ultimately individuals join gangs for a sense of family. At this point, a handful of individuals join gangs for protection. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay People often join gangs to gain protection from others. People struggle to live every day due to high crime rates and low incomes, especially in the ghetto, where most gangs originated. When a female/male decides to join a gang, it would be the only way for them to live safely because they try to protect each other. In a community, joining a gang with several gangs offers considerable protection from violence and attacks by rival gangs. Troubled neighborhoods that suffer from a high level of criminal activity often see teenagers and young adults join gangs for protection. (Why Young People Join Gangs, 2017) People who grow up in neighborhoods where drugs are readily available are more likely to join gangs, right before they even reach puberty. Gang members see it as either gaining a sense of power and support from the gang or being left out in the open, vulnerable and unprotected. (Why People Join Gangs, 2015) Most members believe that a gang provides support in the event of an attack and retaliation for transgressions. A free spirit joins a group seeking monetary protection, social protection, and self-esteem protection. Young people seek personal security from a number of different sources. People seek refuge and safety from other gangs and think that joining a gang will provide them with security. Or they seek security from individuals and bullies. For example, an individual may have committed a crime and seek refuge among gang members. Many people who join gangs are poor or without a stable source of income. They join gangs for monetary protection as they can get quick and easy money. They deal drugs or participate in other criminal activities such as theft to obtain large amounts of money in a short time. If a person feels abandoned, has no purpose, no direction in their life, and no purpose, they turn to gain gang membership to fulfill their life and protect their self-esteem. A gang member gains purpose in life and protects his self-esteem from harm when he joins a gang. (youth joining gangs, 2015) Equally important, individuals join gangs to gain a sense of family. They feel they don't get enough support or attention at home. Family breakdown and the lack of a father figure play a major role in people joining gangs. Children as young as nine are being drawn into organized crime for protection and to gain a "sense of belonging" due to a lack of positive role models at home. Gangs are sought after for social security where gangs are part of the community and provide a place of belonging for young people if they come from drug-ridden places like Mexico, many children come from broken or unstable homes and do not receive the kind of attention andcare they need. They feel that gangs are their surrogate families. (young people joining gangs, 2015) A gang is seen as a group of people who try to break the law and cause chaos in the community. However, the relationship between a gang and its community is very crucial. Gang members and the gang as a whole seek to establish strong bonds with their community for four different reasons. (Paton,2008) For many young people, the decision to shed blood on the streets rather than spend time sharing blood at home is not a real choice. According to the report, one in three young people think so that their parents are not worthy of respect. (Paton,2008) Many parents of children leave, some suffer from addictions, others are violent. Many parents are never home because they are out working two jobs to pay the bills. For example, Dark Side Massive, a gang of young black boys who used to rule a common room at school. They were a gang of guys who strutted around playing bad garage remixes at lunchtime, shoplifting from a tuck shop and dealing knives. These young males were raised by a family whose parents never showed up for parents' evening; they were the ones who didn't return home. They had to create their own community. Kids gather on the streets because they suffer from the same problems. The gang brings them closer, though it doesn't help create a solution. These young males are trying to understand what it means to be an adult and deal with the problems of growing up without guidance. In gangs there are no men to follow, only boys to imitate. (Davis,2008) Love needs as a desire for a sense of belonging and friendship in both groups and individually; both romantically and platonically. Gang involvement is an attractive means of satisfying romantic needs because it allows young people to have a sense of belonging to a group. Research shows that many young people involved in gangs lack close ties to their families, friends and schools. Within families, for example, lack of parental support is directly related to gang membership. Many young people involved in gangs come from single-parent families, with the mother often being the sole caretaker. This correlation exists because the single parent is the family's sole source of income and may have less time to spend with their child. Additionally, poor family involvement, poor communication, and poor parental monitoring are all risk factors for gang involvement. These factors are indicative of a family relationship in which an individual does not feel a sense of love and belonging, and therefore the young person may seek other ways to satisfy the need for family connections, for example with peers. If a young person can find love or belong to their classmates, they will be less likely to get involved in a gang. Adult communities disappear, with the result that young people look for alternatives of their own. (Gang Involvement as a Means to Meet Basic Needs, 2015) Finally, a handful of people join gangs for financial gain. They believe this would increase their chances of making money. Gang members exploit their affiliation to profit through illegal activities such as drug sales and car theft. Young people love gang life because they feel rich at a young age. Many think they will become famous. Many young people join gangs to make quick money. Young people who are not yet financially stable due to reasons such as difficulty finding a job or trying to help their parents would consider joining a gang because it is quick and easy money.