Immigrant Adaptation and Marginalization: From a Boy Gang to a Gang Subculture

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Mae Hubbard
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1 Immigrant Adaptation and Marginalization: From a Boy Gang to a Gang Subculture Illegal Immigration, Crime, and Public Policy Symposium Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety Arizona State University April 5, 2007 James Diego Vigil Professor of Social Ecology University of California, Irvine

2 I. Forces at Work Macrohistorical 1) Racism 2) Social and Cultural Repression 3)Fragmented Institutions Macrostructural 1) Immigration and Migration 2) Enclave Settlement 3) Migrant Poor barrio/ghetto II. Dynamics Framework of Multiple Marginality Act and React Ecological/ Sociocultural Social Psychological 1) interstices 1) Social control 1) Street Identity a. visual/spatial a. street socialization 2) Age/sex 2) Underclass 2) Nested Subcultures a. psychosocial a. strain-pushes away a. subcultural reference moratorium group 3) becoming a man socioeconomic Street socialization begins here Entering U.S. Cities Living and working in Breakdown of Street Socialization in marginal ways marginal situations and Social control and and Street Identity conditions Marginalization Locks in and Perpetuates certain people into the barrio; social mobility hindered (1) creation of street elites and locos affect youth (2) creates street culture carriers (3) fight/defend for the turf, for protection

3 Immigration Dynamics U.S.A Other Nation Or U.S. Region (Immigration or Migration) Revolution (Civil War) Economy Cheap Labor PULL PUSH

5 Ecological E.G. Gullies, Ravines, Hills, etc. L.A. Cucamonga LA River White Fence PACIFIC OCEAN Pico Gardens Housing Project Colonia Simon

11 Socioeconomic GOALS GOALS GOALS MEANS MEANS RICH MIDDLE CLASS POOR Poverty

12 Selected Characteristics of Pico Gardens Sample Households and Surrounding Communities Mean Number of Persons Per Household Pico Gardens 3.4 Boyle Heights/Downtown 4.2 East Los Angeles 2.9 Los Angeles County

13 Mean Age (Years) Pico Gardens Boyle Heights/Downtown East Los Angeles Los Angeles County

14 Percent of Households Receiving Public Assistance Pico Gardens 18 Boyle Heights/Downtown 12 East Los Angeles 7 Los Angeles County

15 Social Control Family Gangs School Police Street Socialization Gang becomes; Parenting, Schooling and Police Agents

16 Mex- Am. Evolution of Street Subcultures African- Am s 1930 s 1940 s 1960 s Palomilla Boy Boy Gangs Gangs Gang Subculture 1950s 1970s 1990s Boy Boy Gangs Gangs Gang Subculture Vietnamese- Am. Salvadoran- Am. 1980s Copy Cat Cat Gangs 1980s Reactive Gangs 2000s Gangs 2000s Deportation and and Migration of of Gangs

17 Incarcerated persons Figure 5.1

18 Unknown 2005 Moved out Out of jail; living with wife and baby Locked up for a bit; now working 12 Locked up for murder 17 Incarcerated:; shot by rival gang Deceased Deceased Deceased On the run for shooting a cop Fugitive on the run Currently working (Peripheral) Became a counselor 31 Fugitive on the run 15 Low profile; family man 23 Matured out of gang 6 Most loco member; on the run Incarcerated persons 32 (Center then) Reported to be in Tijuana; moved out; living outside the projects Figure 5.2

19 EGO Development Nature: Heredity Fragile Nurture: Social Social Ecology What? Others say it is How? It was put together When? Was it formed Why? This and not that part developed Where? Is it going Fragmented School Home Street

20 Psychological Strain: Different Types of Identities IDEAL: What I would like to be! CLAIMED: What I would like others to think I am! FEARED: What I would not like to be! REAL: What I am!

21 Group Psychology A. A. The The Group Group As As Ego Ego Ideal Ideal Mi Mi Barrio: Barrio: The The Group Group As As EGO EGO Ideal Ideal B. B. Psycho Psycho & Social Social Moratorium Moratorium Scheidlinger, 1952-EGO- Supportive outlets in group Protection, Security, and Affection Positive Personal Ties Shared Ideal and Interest Climate of Equality and Justice Symbolic Group Ceremonials and Activities Common Enemies Outside Group Monster Monster EGO EGO A collection of fragmented ego s to make a monster ego

22 Louie The Lump

23 Biff Ellison Kid Twist Red Rocks Farrell

24 Googy Corcoran Piker Ryan

31 Multiple Marginality; Otherwise known as Marginalized! Ecology (SES) Social History (racism) and Immigration Isolated, visual difference Family stress, strains Underclass Culture Change P O V E R T Y Crowded home Unsupervised Older guys, ex-cons, unemployed: group runs it; must adjust Patterns to adopt Manage Fear S T R E E T L I F E

32 CULTURE PSYCHOLOGY Dress, appearance Signs and symbols Cliques Language S T R E E T F R O N T Psychosocial Moratorium: Age/sex clarification Initiation ritual Ego. Group and role facets Fear management syndrome Locura S T R E E T I D E N T I T Y

The Interconnectedness of our Critical Concerns: Through the Lens of Immigration

Slide 1 The Interconnectedness of our Critical Concerns: Through the Lens of Immigration Ryan Murphy Social Justice Organizer Institute Justice Team 1 Slide 2 The Symbols of Mercy: Critical Concerns Immigration