Cover photo of Social Policy Journal

New Zealand Youth Gangs: Key Findings and Recommendations from an Urban Ethnography

Erin J. Eggleston


Focused on the aim of understanding the experience of youth in gangs, this study used participant-observation as a method for entering the semi-secretive youth gang world and thematic analysis to examine youth talk from fifty-four recorded interviews. Results suggest themes of belonging, gender, vulnerability and trouble. Key discussion issues include a working definition for the New Zealand youth gang, why New Zealand youth are so influenced by American cultural icons, concerns related to gender development, and suggestions for future research topics.

Cover photo of Social Policy Journal

Documents

Social Policy Journal of New Zealand: Issue 14

New Zealand Youth Gangs: Key Findings and Recommendations from an Urban Ethnography

Jul 2000

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