The study is based on interviews with 31 female students at an alternative school in a high-crime urban environment. The young women were asked their beliefs about why adolescents join gangs. It was hypothesized that peer pressure was the greatest influence on female gang involvement, and that girls might turn to gangs for protection from neighborhood crime, abusive families, and other gangs. Family characteristics linked to gang involvement included family conflict and lack of parental warmth. In addition, gangs’ participation in illegal activities may provide access to excitement and moneymaking opportunities not available through legitimate institutions. Adolescents may view gang membership as a way of obtaining respect. Participants in this study believed that girls might join gangs for different reasons than boys. This suggests that intervention programs designed for boys may be ineffective for girls. The article suggests that, to prevent female gang membership, it will be necessary to focus attention on the specific forces that shape it. Tables, references