Title: How Street Gangs Work | HowStuffWorks
Headings: How Street Gangs Work
How Street Gangs Work
Why Do People Join Gangs?
Gang History
Gang Life
Stopping Gangs
Street Gangs FAQ
What does Crips stand for?
What does Bloods stand for?
What's the difference between the Bloods and Crips?
Are the Bloods and Crips still at war?
How many street gangs are in the United States?
Citation

Content: Many gangs exist mainly as a moneymaking enterprise. By committing thefts and dealing drugs, gang members can make relatively large amounts of money. People who are faced with a lack of money may turn to crime if they can't earn enough with a legitimate job. This partly explains why gangs exist in poor, rundown areas of cities. However, not everyone who is poor joins a gang, and not every gang member is poor. Peer pressure. Gang members tend to be young. This is partly because gangs intentionally recruit teenagers, but it's also because young people are very susceptible to peer pressure. If they live in a gang-dominated area, or go to a school with a strong gang presence, they might find that many of their friends are joining gangs. It can be difficult for a teen to understand the harm that joining a gang can bring if he's worried about losing all of his friends.