sciencetech-blog

comments

Girls tend to do better in street gangs because they have better people skills than males, researchers have found.

Researchers analysed street gangs in South London and found that girls and young women were more likely to rise through the ranks.

They say girls used their superior people skills to carry out trusted tasks such as money laundering or banking, alongside more practical tasks for gangs such as smuggling weapons in their prams or hiding drug stashes.

Researcher spent four years analysing street gangs and found that girls and young women were more likely to rise through the ranks

Overall, the team from Middlesex University found females can achieve influence and high status.

Dr Simon Harding, of Middlesex University, who presented the research today at the British Sociological Association annual conference in Leeds, spoke to members of gangs in South London and found  that girls' superior social skills could often give them an advantage over less streetwise male gang members. 

Dr Harding said his research challenged the traditional view of girls as powerless hangers-on who had to suffer rape or other abuse as the price of belonging to the gang.

He talked to members of four gangs aged 16-25 in Lambeth, and area of South London where gang membership is high, over four years.

He found that the males in the gangs 'achieve status within the gang by violence and criminal activity – the rougher, tougher and nastier they are, the higher their status.

'But the girls and young women could gain status in a different way through their social skills – they
can become quite important players but not though violence or brutality.

'They deal in information,trading and exchanging this daily.

Dr Harding said his research challenged the traditional view of girls as powerless hangers-on who had to suffer rape or other abuse as the price of belonging to the gang. - and aid their ability to gossip helped them

'In the gang world information is vital if you're going to be successful at fighting off rivals and
staying ahead of the police.'

Dr Harding approached the gangs through charities that work with them.

'The male members of the gangs often spend a lot of time hanging around with their gang mates,
smoking dope, staying out of the way.

'It's the girls who keep in touch with the wider community as well as all the gang members – they
pick up gossip on the streets, stay in contact with friends and family and use Facebook and Skype to
gather information. 

'They know who is dealing drugs on the gang's patch and when the police are watching the estate.

'They can be used to arrange fights with other gangs, and they can smuggle weapons or drugs –
sometimes in the prams next to their babies.

'They can be used as 'clean skins' – they don't have criminal records and it's easier for them to avoid suspicion. 

'They often know who is wavering in loyalty to the gang – after a street fight it's the girls who pick
up the discarded mobile phones and they check the messages to see who has been communicating
with other gangs. 

'The girls' knowledge gives them status within the gang and the male members are wary of their
power to spread rumours about them or inform on them to others in the gang, and that can put some of them in a powerful position.

WHAT THE FEMALE GANG MEMBERS SAID

LAPD's gang unit officers question confirmed MS-13 street gang members

Researchers carried out interviews over four years with gang members in Lambeth - and these are some of their comments:

'I get 300 texts a day – I live in a texting storm' – she sifted this information and
from it she knew a great deal about what was going in her gang, in other gangs and on the street.

'Now you can find out in 30 seconds what someone said about you.

'The gossip can come from massive number of sources.

'You can hear at least 10 things a day. I'm not gonna lie, my phone rings at least once a day and I get told something about someone.

Another said: 'if something happens, people will say 'find out – phone that girl' and she will tell
them'.'

Dr Harding told the conference: 'This research sheds a new light on street gangs because it has
previously been assumed that girls always had a low or secondary status within a gang, but that's not
necessarily the case.

'The girls' social skills give them status and they benefit from this, receiving money, gifts and respect. 

'But for those women who do not have the social skills – including street knowledge and high levels
of trust – their situation is much more precarious.

'They may end up with little choice but to sleep with gang members to get protection.

Frequently they are likely to be victimised – passed around for sex or gang raped.'

Dr Harding approached the gangs through charities that work with them