U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Female Gangs: An Historical Perspective (From Female Gangs in America: Essays on Girls, Gangs and Gender, P 187-209, 1999, Meda Chesny-Lind and John M. Hagedorn, eds. -- See NCJ-184395)

NCJ Number
184403
Author(s)
Carl S. Taylor
Date Published
1999
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews the history and development of female gangs--particularly African American female gangs.
Abstract
The chapter examines the emerging attitude of female criminal independence and the changing male-female gang relationship. It also studies the deterioration of inner-city Detroit’s, economy, and the impact such a situation can have on the opportunities, circumstances, and values of young African-American women. In relation to gangs in the 1990's, females appear as independently functioning units, coed gangs and auxiliaries to male gangs. In gangs that have become financially and commercially competent, gender is irrelevant. Where women have entered the corporate arena and proven their worth, the gang generally does not differentiate between the sexes. They may not have the same level of participation, but females are included in the subculture of crime. Black female gangs are part of the new era of commercial gangs. They are participants within the various gang types. Scavenger, delinquent, criminal, compatriot, territorial, and corporate types are all part of the transfamilial social organizations in Detroit.