Society would like to accept that children lost to gangs are from.
While in some cases this may be true, .
in many homes this is not the case. In Susan Horton's article "Mothers,.
Sons, and The Gangs" she speaks of three different scenarios of gang.
members and their families. Although the families had different.
backgrounds, beliefs, and techniques they all shared in common sons who.
were gang members. They are mothers who care but have to face alone the.
battle of raising their sons in a community lost to gangs. In Horton's.
article we are introduced to three different families whose sons are.
involved with gangs. Teresa Rodriguez who still feels foreign and timid.
about the culture of America. Maggie Garcia who was raised in the same.
neighborhood as her son and believes that loyalty to the neighborhood is.
just and understandable. And Gayle Thomas Kary who because of financial.
struggles was thrown into the gang community and fought her best to save.
her son. And their sons whom are all minors living in a society pressured.
by gang affiliation. Although their homes had loving mothers their gangs.
had friends, bravado, acceptance, and a way of life. Studies prove that.
youth join gangs because of "low self-esteem and a stressful home life. A.
youth whose friends with gang- members and experiences peer- pressure to.
join. A youth with poor academic performance, a lack of alternatives, lack.
of positive support, a feeling of helplessness, and hopelessness, as well.
as very frightened youth who is intimidated by the gangs." (Yahoo, Lopez.
29) Not all of these aspects are apparent in gang members but at least.
one is. In Teresa Rodriguez's case her son at thirteen unbeknown to.
her belonged to the gang Sur 13. Because of his bravado he was shot and.
the family home has been victim to shootings ever since. Luckily the.
bullet missed his heart and he survived. Still he did not learn his lesson.
and claimed that he did not care if he died.
