“Fated” generations of gang members

Another excerpt from our complimentary study guide for Oedipus el Rey:

Gangs are much more than just the deviant subculture that is portrayed so often on television and other media.  They are social organizations with their own sets of values, norms, history, rules and traditions that are passed down from generation to generation just as any other religious or ethnic culture is passed down.
Modern urban street gangs have evolved into tribal organizational structures. They claim territory, are self-supporting, have their own language and customs, and establish their own rules and codes of conduct. Their customs are passed to new members by rites of passage, thus ensuring the continuance of the gang.
Gang members teach one another—formally and informally—what the customs of the gang are (i.e., how to dress, how to behave with women - or men), and they possess specific knowledge about the gang (i.e., traditions, initiation rites, territory, history). Just as in society certain behaviors are expected and accepted among its members. Violations of these expectations may result in punishments which range from minor to severe. For example, respect is an important value, so disrespecting a gang or gang member violates expectations and may result in severe punishment.

Every society has a common language, both verbal and non-verbal. Gangs, too, have a language of their own. Nearly every group develops its own argot - its own special idiom. All these play a part in establishing a sense of identity and acceptance—which is passed down generation after generation.

Most gangs are populated by marginalized youth who want to create their own identity and protest against the injustices of the dominant culture. For many young Latinos, the only way of surviving the tough life of the barrios is by joining the gang. Limited options are available to the youth who live in the poorest and most violent parts of the country. It is difficult to survive outside of the gang; violent acts committed due to gang activity have created feelings of fear and powerless for those who are not members. The question of whether to join a gang for some youth is not an option because growing up in a place like East L.A. and other tough neighborhoods is harsh; exposure to drugs and street violence becomes part of the everyday routine. Under these circumstances, safety is a large concern and youth are forced to claim a gang if they don’t want to become victimized by any other gangs, out of a necessity to protect themselves. Latinos living in gang neighborhoods are expected to claim a gang otherwise they are putting their lives at risk.

Finally, another motive for joining a gang is that Latino youth want to feel a sense of belonging. Many Latinos struggle with issues of identity because they feel caught in between two cultures. To create that sense of belonging they form clubs or gangs. Often, the young men who take part in violent gang acts are often caught up in something more profound, a web of rivalries so old that past sins assume a mythical quality.