What Happened to Female Gang Members?

176 Founding Gang members

from five African American and Four Latina Gangs*

	African Americans N= 84	Latinas N= 92	Significance
Working	36.3%	20.3%	p< .0001
On AFDC	43.8%	74.3%	p< .0001
No longer in Gang	98.8%	92.3%	N.S.
Completed High School	46.6%	21.9%	p< .0001
Completed less than 10th Grade	13.3%	35.6%	p< .0001
Ever Used Cocaine	12.7%	69.5%	p<.0001
Used Cocaine Daily	8.5%	45.8%	p<.0001
Still Lived in Gang Neighborhood	8.3%	26.4%	p< .001
Been to Jail	44.0%	40.2%	N.S

* There were no neighborhood-based white female gangs in Milwaukee when we did our interviews.

The most significant difference between male and female gang members is adult gang membership. Almost none of the women continued their membership in the gang when they became adults. Why? They told us first, they "grew out of it," second most became mothers, and third it was too crazy.

Do male and female gang members differ in their exposure to violence. Just look at these numbers:

Many studies say that female gang members come from more abusive family situations than male gang members. Our data finds that the situaion is more complicated. Did girl gang members run away from home more than male gang members? The answer is no.

What Happened to Female Gang Members?

Many studies say that female gang members come from more abusive family situations than male gang members. Our data finds that the situaion is more complicated. Did girl gang members run away from home more than male gang members? The answer is no.

Did you ever run away from home as a teenager? All Respondents by gender.

Males

Females

Row Total

Yes

42

49.4

46.7

43

50.6

51.8

85

49.1

No

47

54.7

52.2

39

45.3

47.0

86

49.7

Column

Totals

90

52.0

83

48.0

173

100.0