The key answer of exercise 1
The key to exercise solutions in chapter 6.3 for the textbook Identity B1+ with authors Elizabeth Sharman from Oxford University Press
Question
What's a gang? What kind of crimes do you associate with gangs? Why do you think people join a gang?
Answer
A gang is a group of individuals who come together for various purposes, often engaging in criminal activities. These activities can range from drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and violence to other organized criminal endeavors. Gangs often operate within specific territories or neighborhoods and may have their own hierarchies, codes, and symbols.
Some of the crimes commonly associated with gangs include:
- Drug trafficking: Gangs may be involved in the distribution and sale of illegal drugs, contributing to substance abuse and related crimes.
- Violence: Gangs may engage in acts of violence, including assault, murder, and intimidation, to establish and maintain control over their territories, settle disputes, or retaliate against rival gangs.
- Robbery and theft: Gang members may commit theft, burglary, or robbery to obtain money, goods, or other valuables to support their activities.
- Extortion: Gangs may coerce individuals or businesses into paying them protection money or engaging in other criminal activities under threat of violence or harm.
People may join gangs for various reasons, including:
- Protection: Some individuals may join gangs for protection from threats or violence in their neighborhoods or communities.
- Sense of belonging: Gangs often provide a sense of identity, camaraderie, and belonging that individuals may lack in other aspects of their lives, especially if they come from disadvantaged or marginalized backgrounds.
- Financial opportunities: Gang involvement may offer opportunities for quick money through illegal activities such as drug trafficking or robbery.
- Peer pressure: Pressure from friends or family members who are already involved in gangs may influence individuals to join as well.
- Lack of alternatives: For some individuals, especially those living in impoverished or crime-ridden areas, joining a gang may seem like the only viable option for survival or advancement.
Overall, the reasons for joining a gang can be complex and multifaceted, often influenced by a combination of social, economic, and personal factors.