Exploring Factors That Gravitate Rural Youth Towards Gangs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6549/11456Keywords:
community, Ecological Systems Theory, gangs, gangsterism, youthAbstract
Youth gang involvement, also in rural areas, has been noted as a concern in South Africa. This article reports on a study, framed in the Ecological Systems Theory, that explored the factors gravitating rural youths towards gangs to make recommendations for preventative and early intervention social work services. It was envisaged that, by addressing these causes within the different systems of youths’ lives, they can be empowered and supported to make alternative life choices. A qualitative approach and explorative and contextual research designs were utilised. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to draw a sample from the population of youth in the rural community. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews with eight participants. Ethics entailed the limitation of harm to participants and debriefing, informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, privacy, and data management. The findings provided a description of causal factors in terms of the micro, mezzo, exo, macro and chronosystems that gravitate youth towards gangs. It was concluded that a variety of role players are needed to ensure sustainable prevention and early intervention services to rural youth and their families. Recommendations for preventative and early intervention services were made based on the findings and framed in the Ecological Systems Theory.
References
Anney, V. N. 2014. “Ensuring the Quality of the Findings of Qualitative Research: Looking at Trustworthiness Criteria.” Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies 5 (2): 272–281. https://doi.org/10.4236/jhrss.2019.71002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/jhrss.2019.71002
Bowers Du Toit, N. F. 2014. “Gangsterism on the Cape Flats: A Challenge to ‘Engage the Powers’.” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 70 (3): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i3.2727. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i3.2727
Boxer, P. 2014. “Youth Gangs and Adolescent Development: New Findings, New Challenges and New Directions: Introduction to the Special Section.” Journal of Research on Adolescence 24 (2): 201–203. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12141
Breen, A., K. Daniels, and M. Tomlinson. 2019. “Adolescents’ Views on Youth Gang Involvement in a South African Township.” Children and Youth Services Review 98: 171–177. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.12.010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.12.010
Bronfenbrenner, U. 1979. The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Carson, D., and N. K. Hipple. 2020. “Comparing Violent and Non-violent Gang Incidents: An Exploration of Gang-related Police Incident Reports.” Sociology Science 9 (11): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/socsci9110199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9110199
De Jongh, S. 2021. “The Views of Social Workers Regarding their Role in Youth Gang Prevention in Communities of the Western Cape.” Master of Social Work dissertation. Stellenbosch University.
Department of Social Development (DSD). 2013. Framework for Social Welfare Services. South Africa, Government Printer.
Dykes, G., F. Brey, S. Carelse, R. Davids, A. Human-Hendricks, and N. Lukelelo. 2021. “Skollies in my Skool: Menings wat Saak Maak.” (Skollies’ in my School: Opinions that Matter). Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk 57 (2): 214–224. http://dx.doi.org/10.15270/52-2-930. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15270/57-2-930
Geldenhuys, K. 2019. “Investigating and Prosecuting those Committing Gang Violence.” Servamus Community-based Safety and Security Magazine 112 (3): 10–17. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-1443864116.
Gilman, A. B., K. G. Hill, J. D. Hawkins, J. C. Howell, and R. Kosterman, R. 2014. “The Development Dynamics of Joining a Gang in Adolescence: Patterns and Predictors of Gang Membership.” Journal of Research Adolescence 24 (2): 204–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12121
Healy, K. 2014. Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice, 2nd edition. Basingstok: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-02425-1_11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-02425-1_11
Hesselink, A., and N. B. Bougard. 2020. Risk Factors Associated with Youth Gang Involvement: An Exploratory Criminological Case Study Analysis. Journal of Psychology in Africa 30 (5): 459–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2020.1821314. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2020.1821314
Holtzblatt, K., and H. Beyer. 2015. Contextual Design Evolved. Morgan and Claypool Online Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02207-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02207-4
Kadir, H. A. 2012. “School Gangs of Yogyakarta: Mass Fighting Strategies and Masculine Charisma in the City of Students.” The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology 13 (4): 352–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/14442213.2012.697188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14442213.2012.697188
Kamenopoulou, L. 2016. “Ecological Systems Theory: A Valuable Framework for Research on Inclusion and Special Educational Needs/Disabilities.” Pedagogy 4 (88): 515–525.
Kerig, P. K., C. Wainryb, M. S. Twali, and S. D. Chaplo, S. D. 2013. “America’s Child Soldiers: Toward a Research Agenda for Studying Gang-involved Youth in the United States.” Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma 22 (7): 773–795. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/10926771.2013.813883. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2013.813883
Magidi, M., R. Schenk, and C. Erasmus. 2016. “High School Learner’s Experiences of Gangsterism in Hanover Park.” The Social Work Practitioner-Researcher 28 (1): 69–84. https://doi.org/10.25159/2415-5829/1351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2415-5829/1351
Maguire, M., and B. Delahunt. 2017. “Doing a Thematic Analysis: A Practical Step-by-step Guide for Learning and Teaching Scholars.” All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 8 (3), 3351–33514. http://ojs.aishe.org/index.php/aishe-j/article/view/3354.
Mendez, L., M. M. Mozley, and P. K. Kerig. 2020. “Associations among trauma Exposure, Callous-unemotionality, Race or Ethnicity, and Gang Involvement in Justice-involved Youth.” Criminal Justice and Behaviour 47 (4): 457–469. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0093854819897940. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854819897940
Mncube, V., and N. Madikizela-Madiya. 2014. “Gangsterism as a Cause of Violence in South African Schools: The Case of Six Provinces.” Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology 5 (1): 43−50. https://doi.org/10.1080/09766634.2014.11885608. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09766634.2014.11885608
Novak, A. 2014. “Anonymity, Confidentiality, Privacy, and Identity: The Ties that Bind and Break in Communication Research.” Review of Communication 14 (1): 36–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/15358593.2014.942351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15358593.2014.942351
O’Brien, K., M. Daffern, C. M., Chu, and S. D. M. Thomas. 2013. “Youth Gang Affiliation, Violence, and Criminal Activities: A Review of Motivational, Risk and Protective Factors.” Aggression and Violent Behaviour 18: 417–425. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.avb.2013.05.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2013.05.001
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., K. M. T. Collins, and R. K. Frels. 2013. “Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory to Frame Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research.” International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches 7 (1): 2–8. https://doi.org/10.5172/mra.2013.7.1.2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5172/mra.2013.7.1.2
Paarl Post. 2018. “Wat Doen Bendegeweld aan die Gemeenskap?” July 18. Accessed April 14, 2022. https://www.netwerk24.com/Netwerk24/polisie-slaan-bendegeweld-hok-20180704-2.
Pinnock, D. 2017. Gang Town. Cape Town: NB Publishers.
Reiter, B. 2017. “Theory and Methodology of Exploratory Social Science Research.” International Journal of Science and Research Methodology 5 (4): 129–150. http://ijsrm.humanjournals.com/theory-and-methodology-of-exploratory-social-science-research/.
Republic of South Africa (RSA). 2020. National Youth Policy. The Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Ritchie, J., J. Lewis, G. Elam, R. Tennant, and R. Nilufer, R. 2014. “Designing and Selecting Samples.” In Qualitative Research Practice: A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers, edited by J. Ritchie, J. Lewis, C. McNaughton Nicholls, and R. Ormston, 2nd edition, 111–146. London: SAGE.
Rosa, E. M., and J. Tudge, J. 2013. “Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Theory of Human Development: Its Evolution from Ecology to Bioecology.” Journal of Family Theory and Review 5: 243–258. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1111/jftr.12022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12022
South African Police Service Statistics. 2019. Crime Administration System. South African Police Service, Paarl East: 03/07/2019.
Terre Blanche, M., K. Durheim, and D. Painter, D. 2014. Research in Practice: Applied Methods for The Social Sciences, 2nd edition. Cape Town: UCT Press.
Van der Merwe, A., A. Dawes, and C. L. Ward, C. L. 2012. “The Development of Youth Violence: An Ecological Understanding.” Youth Violence: Sources and Solutions in South Africa, edited by C. L. Ward, 53–80. Cape Town: UCT Press.
Van der Westhuizen, M., and S. Gawulayo. 2020. “Youths in Gangs on the Cape Flats: If not in Gangs, then what?” Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk 57 (1): 118–132. http://dx.doi.org/10.15270/52-2-810.; https://doi.org/10.15270/57-1-910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15270/57-1-910
Yiu, H. L. 2021. “Community and School Contexts in Youth Gang Involvement: Combining Social Bonds and Social Organization Perspectives.” The Urban Review 53: 295–317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-020-00567-x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-020-00567-x
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright will be vested in Unisa Press. However, as long as you do not use the article in ways which would directly conflict with the publisher’s business interests, you retain the right to use your own article (provided you acknowledge the published version of the article) as follows:
- to make further copies of all or part of the published article for your use in classroom teaching;
- to make copies of the final accepted version of the article for internal distribution within your institution, or to place it on your own or your institution’s website or repository, or on a site that does not charge for access to the article, but you must arrange not to make the final accepted version of the article available to the public until 18 months after the date of acceptance;
- to re-use all or part of this material in a compilation of your own works or in a textbook of which you are the author, or as the basis for a conference presentation.
Accepted 2022-11-21
Published 2023-04-03
