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Research Interest
Until recently, the role of girls in gangs has been neglected.
So, while there has been a growing number of studies investigating
the connections among male gangs, violence, and other criminal activities,
there has been no active development in research on female involvement
in gang activity.
As with all young women who find their way into the juvenile justice
system, girls in gangs have been invisible, “present but invisible”
(Chesney-Lind, 1998).
Gang
membership was viewed primarily as a male dominated phenomena.
This pattern of invisibility was undoubtedly set by Thrasher and
carried on by many subsequent, mostly male, researchers. In
early writings, girls were defined solely in terms of their interpersonal
and structural relations to male gang members. Their roles
were described by male gang members to male researchers and interpreted
by male academics. For this reason I am determined to seek
this lack of knowledge we have yet to be explored and see the their
world through these young women’s eyes. As a woman and as,
a Chicana I believe it is an area that is much needed to be ventured
into.
Abstract
"Chicana
Gang Members: Resistance to Traditional Women’s Roles”
This
study explores the lives, needs and struggles of three young Chicana
gang members in the Lower Yakima Valley. The research methods include
listening to and recording the narratives of the three young women’s
experiences. Their stories were interpreted through a third world
feminist perspective and subcultural theory. This included analysis
of the intersections of race, class and gender issues.
Biography
I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico on March 17, 1979. My parents brought
me into the U.S. when I was three months old. A friend of my parents
crossed me over the border with her daughter's identification and
permits. I was raised in Sunnyside, Washington, a small town in
the Yakima Valley. My father is Reveriano Acevedo and he is 42 years
old. He was also born in Guanajuato, Mexico and has been a farm
worker all of his life. He did not have the opportunity to get an
education because his family was very poor. He is able to read and
write in Spanish but has a difficult time. My mother is Eva Acevedo
and she is 41 years old. She was also born in Guanajuato, Mexico.
She has four years of education and is able to read and write in
Spanish, but neither of my parents speak English. She has also been
a farm worker all of her life.
I
am the oldest in my family and the first woman to graduate from
high school and go onto a university. I have three younger brothers
and one younger sister. My brother's are Roberto Acevedo at 15 years
of age, Jorge Acevedo at 9 years of age, and Andres Acevedo at 5
years of age. My sister, Maricela Acevedo, is 19 years old. They
were all born in Yakima and Toppenish,
Washington.
I
graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1997 and WashingtonState
University majoring in 2001 majoring Criminal Justice and Psychology.
I was involved with organizations, such as M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento
Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan) and Mujeres Unidas. I was also
a student mentor for the Chicana/o Latina/o Student Center.
I
am still unclear as to what exactly I want to do with my life, but
my passion is to work with my Mexicano/Chicano community. I have
looked into the field of law to educate me with the tools needed
to fight for my community's rights. I have also looked into the
field of counseling to help guide young chicano/latino students
to higher education and help them in times of confusion and despair.
My
family gives me the energy to continue each day. I live my life
each day for them. Being the oldest has its positives and negatives,
and I feel very pressured because I know that my entire family looks
up to me. I sometimes feel that I have no space to fail. On the
other hand, being the oldest has made me into a very strong and
responsible woman.
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