Masculinity Across the Life Course of Long-Term Gang Members

• In Event: 2363 - Masculinities I

Abstract

Prior studies find that masculinity is a key part of gang membership, and that members tend to leave gangs as they age and mature. Nevertheless, the process of how gang members’ masculinities unfold over the life course is not well understood. This study draws on interviews with 29 former gang members to investigate how these individuals perceived and practiced masculinity at different points in their lives. We find that while in the gang and later in the life course, perceptions of masculinity are associated with working-class values. Respondents expressed that men should always act with respect and honor and strive to be righteous towards others. Changes did occur, however, in the ways men accomplished masculinity at different points in the life course. These changes were associated with the ability of the gang to be a resource to gain a masculine identity. When the gang is perceived as a place of honor and respect it helps individuals accomplish masculinity. Conversely, not being perceived as a place of honor and respect is associated with a reformulation of masculinity. The concept of masculinity reformation therefore describes these individuals’ constant perceptions of masculinity ideals and associated changing behaviors of masculinity at different points in the life course. The level of reformation that took place is linked to the strength of incongruence between perceptions of age-appropriate masculinity and gang masculinity. Participants’ reformed masculinities existed on a continuum based on how they view their experience in the gang.

Authors

• John Thomas Leverso, University of Washington

• Christian L. Hess, University of Washington