They might also be linked to the greater societal tolerance accorded to men, rather than to women, to participate in illicit activities. These dynamics can be exacerbated by outside agencies, be it national or international security' actors, if and when they aggressively target men and boys of particular ethnic, religious or social profiles as suspected trouble-makers. Thereby, they often foreclose other possibilities for them not to join gangs, political pressure groups or movements seen as extremist.