Youth Gangs & Ethnicity
in Australia
Rob White
University of Tasmania
Youth Gangs Research
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history of youth gangs research in Australia [pushes, bodgies &
widgies]
emphasis on ‘qualitative methods’: interviews, observation,
community workers
community study vs gang research as such
importance of local context: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth,
plus National Study
not suburbs necessarily, but specific territorial directions [arcs &
strips]
centrality of ‘ethnicity’, except for Hobart
changing dynamics of group interaction in each locale:
historically, based upon age of interviewees, and changing nature of
neighbourhoods
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Dynamics of Deviancy
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social difference and community stigmatisation [ethnic concentration; ethnic
mix; emphasis on non-conformity; relative powerlessness; social
marginalisaton]
moral panics and ethnic targeting [naming; media reports, variations
depending upon time period, and which ethnic minority group depending
upon city]
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building a reputation [where you hang out; specific incidents]
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importance of social identity [one’s place, resisting authority, masculinity &
identity, social valorisation]
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social difference as social deviance [marginalisation, criminalisation,
vilification]
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social transformation [impact of Othering process, search for meaning,
dealing with oppressive conditions – potential for extreme violence]
Basis of Group Membership
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identity [ethnicity; language; locale; and ‘there is good and bad in
everyone]
activity [music – rap, inclusive of others; fighting – inside & outside of
group]
territory [locale; name; reputation; inclusive notion – ‘we all live here’
criminality [doing drugs; anti-social violence]
masculinity [boys-in-groups; machismo – fighting; protection]
religion [source of conflicts – insults]
group membership is [Lebanese] but they are friends and/or familiar with
other groups
different groups will collaborate with each other (e.g., Samoan & Lebanese)
group membership is exclusive, but individual friendship is not
Dynamics of Violence
Weapons
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nature of violence varies with distinct ethnic/cultural groups [e.g., use of weapons; which weapons; symbolic
place of weapons]
weapons and armed robbery
weapons and age [e.g., tied to younger teenagers, not older young adults]
The Body
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physicality related to ethnicity (body size & shape), and type of sport (football, rugby union, rugby league)
weapons are for ‘wimps’
weapons are for those who can’t fight
Violence
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as ‘normal’ form of conflict resolution in school and on the street
notion of ‘bad temper’
emphasis on ‘acting hard’
importance of ‘muscle’ for young men
negotiating to not fight via ‘middle man’
Rituals of Violence
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changes in ‘rules of engagement’ [more use of weapons]
group sets scene to allow for ‘one-on-one’ fights
if someone else intervenes, then ‘all-in’ brawl
‘outsiders’ come into neighbourhood
younger students try to act like ‘gangsters’ and older kids take them on
group grows depending on activity and location [description of size of group for older young people – ‘at least two
cars’]