Gang Identity Across the Life Course

Abstract

Abstract While identity—the social meanings attached to a role—has been documented across various aspects of gang life, examinations of identity have rarely extended beyond “being” a gang member. Exacerbating this is the relative absence of symbolic interactionism in the study of gangs. Thus, a more useful approach is to view gang identity as a situational resource for performance. Conceptualized in this way, the chapter encourages scholars to reimagine how gang identity is managed and what factors facilitate and discourage the “doing” of gang identity. Advancing a “soft” or dynamic version of gang identity presents new avenues for future research and provides practical considerations for understanding gang membership among scholars and practitioners alike. As such, this chapter reviews the importance of gang identity across the life course and concludes with suggestions for future research and practice.