Outsiders Belonging Quotes

join these gangs for stability, a sense of structure and family, and also due to

Furthermore, Johnny is very loyal to the gang. Johnny did not have much of a family, so the gang was his family. He was so loyal that he followed Ponyboy into a burning building to save the children. Johnny was the gang pet if it was not for him everyone would be fighting. Johnny died a slow painful death so others could live because he said their lives were worth more than his. If Johnny had lived he would face jail time for killing Bob. Out of the whole gang Johnny and Dally had the tightest bond. When Johnny died it was to much for Dally to take. “Johnny, don’t die, please don’t die. He suddenly bolted out the door and down the hall” (Hinton, 149). Dally took it really hard because he lost the best person in his

Gangs have been a growing issue across the United States for many decades now. Youth gang violence may have started around the ‘50s, but did not become a serious issue until the ‘80s and from there went through a downward spiral in some cities like downtown Los Angeles, which was where the notorious Bloods and Crips gangs both started. First, let’s simply define a gang as a group of people, mostly men ranging for ages 14-30, who claim territory and use it to make money for themselves and their neighborhood through illegal activities such as trafficking drugs and weapons. There are many reasons and components that are factored in when conducting research to hypothesize “why do people join gangs?” That is why it is necessary to compare and contrast all the social, biological, psychological, developmental, and substance abuse aspects and relate it to joining a gang. It is also important to touch base on the differences between males and females that join gangs, such as power differentials, social learning differences and social stratification differences.

All throughout the book, Johnny gets abused and mistreated by his own parents, the 2 people in the world that should love him more than anyone else. He constantly feels unwanted, unneeded, and worst of all, unloved. Thankfully, the gang was always there if Johnny needed a shoulder to lean on. At the beginning of the book Ponyboy says, "He would have run away a million times if we hadn't been there. If it hadn't been for the gang, Johnny would never have know what love and affection are." (Hinton 12) Although they are not blood related, to Johnny, the gang is like the family he never had.

Shown from the start of the novel, Dally was described as the ‘real character’ of the gang. He was tougher, colder and meaner than the rest. Although during the incident of the burning church, Darry’s character changed and showed that he had feeling as well. This was proved when Dally, jumps inside the burning church to save the children as well as Ponyboy and Johnny. When that news came out on the newspaper, it had so many people shock as well as the Social and if they hadn’t seen it for their own eyes, “[they]would have never believed a Greaser could pull something like that.” Through this, it was proven that Dally had realised how much little things matted in life and that despite being a hero, it was also important to make sure others were okay. Hinton has proved how Dally has changed in his beliefs as well as his

(Hinton 12). Johnny is the most fragile member of the gang, and running away is just a minor example of what he would have done if his friends had not taught him love, or affection, something his parents, and

This causes Dally to become reckless and finally ending in him being killed by the police, Ponyboy tells the reader “Dally Winston wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted.” (p.187). From this the reader can gather how the events had modified Dally, creating a more emotional and caring character, weakening his value for himself and in return, strengthening his value for others.

Qualitative descriptions suggest that, for many, gang membership represents 104 Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice / May 2005an opportunity to enhance social capital as a means to cope with a multitude of problems. Although on balance gang life appears to be neither very rewarding nor satisfying (Hagedorn, 1988), identification with the gang is solidified in response to conflict—often with other gangs—as members pursue their individual and collective interests.

Furthermore, the book, Youth Gangs in American Society by Randall Shelden, Sharon Tracy, and William Brown (2013) discusses several theories about why people join gangs. One theory that I think especially fits the explanation as to why people join gangs, with regards to this book, is the control/social bond theory. Shelden et al define control/social bong theory as “when a youth’s, bonds or ties, to society are weak or broken, especially with family, school and other institutions, when this occurs, a youth is apt to seek bonds with other groups, including gangs, in order to get his or her needs met”(p 193). I think so many groups in society let this boy down in My Bloody Life, including his family, the school system and even the police. Consequently with his ties to society so weak, he reached out to a gang that gave him a sense of comfort and belonging.

As horrible as gangs are, gang members themselves believe that they are beneficial to inner-city society. A former Gangster Disciple, for example, maintains that gang life taught him a lot: "I grew up without a father and I turned to my Disciple brothaz for love. They knew exactly how to treat a brotha and were always there for me, through thick and thin" (Douglas 162).

Ponyboy said he would be dead if he didn't have the gang members. Johnny is the youngest in the gang. He was jumped by Socs and was seriously injured that he almost died. He had psychology impact on the Socs, he would shiver and be frighten whenever he sees a Soc. On the day he left with Ponyboy, they met a group of Socs. Since the Soc called Bob almost drowned Ponyboy to death, he killed Bob. Johnny admired Dally a lot. He wishes Dally could be proud of him for even just once. He wanted to be as tough and cool as Dally but he never succeeds. Johnny was kicked out of school and that was how Ponyboy thought he wasn't clever. Sometimes Johnny understood things better than Ponyboy in the book which was called Gone with the Wind. Johnny had the interest and talent in reading books but no one in the gang except Ponyboy was good enough to talk about these. He wasn't really close with Ponyboy before they ran away together so they didn't have a talk. Johnny also loved to watch sunsets and sunrises but no one in the gang could have spared time to watch or even talk about this. All Johnny couldn't express mad him alienated from the gang members. The only one he was close to was Dally. Dally cared for his all time and would risk his life for whatever happens on Johnny. Such as lending a gun or killing a Soc. Dally wouldn't hesitate as long as it was for

Juveniles often join gangs to be accepted into a society of their peers. These juveniles are looking for acceptance and a sense of belonging. They join these gangs for special status amongst their friends, protection from other gangs, financial help, peer pressure, excitement and for some juveniles, they are born into a gang society and it is a family tradition. Gangs can also act like a family. They will praise, chastise and show them a form of love and respect that they are looking for but cannot get at home.

community and wish to attain the same stature. Gang life might also seem glamorous because of

In a poor neighborhoods gang culture can be a substitute for the wider sense of identity which comes from belonging to and sharing the values of society at large, especially when you feel your own cultural is

While gang membership might not provide happiness in the traditional sense they do quench the human need to belong. This need for acceptance and belonging is only further aggregated through unstable and dangerous Early Childhood