Bullies and Victims: What Influence Do Gangs and Gang Members Exert in Middle School Environments?

• In Event: Roundtable Session 53
  In Roundtable Session: Investigating School Climate in Middle School Roundtable

Abstract

Bullying, recognized as one of the major problems facing adolescents, affects nearly 30% of American students. Scholars recognize a wide range of behaviors consistent with bullying, including the role of peer context and school environment as salient contributors to bullying. Both factors are used to discuss the relationship of gangs in schools. This yields a qualitative description of the relationship between gang presence in middle school on the types of bullying and victimization taking place. Through interviews from a low SES school known for gangs, students talk about experiences with gang members and describe the type of bullying and victimization they experienced or witnessed. All students claimed that they had, indeed, witnessed or experienced victimization from gang members in school.

Authors

• Anjali Forber-Pratt, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Dorothy L. Espelage, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Steven R. Aragon, Texas State University - San Marcos