Abstract

I analyze data gathered from a sample of men who were gang members in San Antonio in the 1950s. Using subject-generated lists of gangs and reputable members citywide, the work examines the size, scope, and other salient characteristics of the barrio gang phenomenon from that era. By extrapolating rough estimates from Census data, qualitative fieldwork, and a police database, I find that the proportion of young Chicano males involved in gang activity today is comparable to what it was in the 1950s. In both eras, nearly 10% of the total population of Chicano males ages 12–19 in San Antonio are and were gang involved. Implications of this finding, study limitations, and future research are discussed.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call