Issues in Criminal Justice: Gangs and Gender Criminal Justice 491. Spring 2000

John M. Hagedorn

BSB 4050C

312-413-2472

huk@uic.edu

 Gangs and Gender on Courseinfo

This class will examine issues of gender as they are related to the social organization of marginal youth and young adults in street gangs. The course will be divided between looking at current issues on female gangs and then turn to notions of masculinity and male gangs.

Three books are required. Female Gangs in America: Essays on Girls, Gangs, and Gender, an edited volume on female gangs by Meda Chesney-Lind and the instructor, The Violent Social World of Black Men, by William Oliver, and Why Men Kill by Kenneth Polk.

Each student will be responsible for presenting parts of the material from the required readings in class. There will be one short 3 to five page paper answering one of a list of questions prepared by the instructor. By February 2, each student will pick a topic for her/his sten to fifteen page final paper. Topics will be chosen from a list provided by the instructor or another topic may be suggested by the student and approved by the instructor. The preferred topic for the final paper is an empirical study of female gangs in Chicago or of male Chicago gangs, focusing on masculinities or "machismo." Graduate students will be expected to write a longer, more thoughtful paper and to assist undergraduates in understanding the readings and finding research material. The final paper is due Wednesday April 26^th.

The short paper will be The final weeks of the course will be devoted to student presenting their final paper and discussing it in class. I reserve the right to schedule a final if class discussion falls below the minimum standards of the instructor.

The final grade will be based on the final paper (50%), the short paper (25%) and class room discussion (25%).

Wednesday January 12

Introduction to the course. The importance of gender in gang research. Questions on the course

First section of Female Gangs in America: History. Pp 3-84

Second Section of FGA: Theory pp 85-153

Discussion and selection of paper topics.

Presentation of Milwaukee female gang research: jmh: male/female comparisons

Third Section of FGA : Economics pp 154-244

Fourth Section of FGA: Violence pp. 245-310

Sum up on female gangs: Handing out of short paper topics.

Masculinities and gangs. (hand-outs) Messerschmidt 1986 pp 68-71. "Frat Boys, bossmen, studs, and gentlemen: a typology of gang masculintiies"

Connell and Messerschmidt’s concept of "masculinities" The concept of "Machismo" (handout tba)

Richard Block. Male and female gang violence in Chicago.

Short Paper on Female Gangs due Monday march 6^th.

Oliver: theories of masculinity. Chapters 1 through 4. Pp 1-41.

Compare with frat boys article.

No Class. Spring Break

Oliver. Chapters 5 through 9. Pp 42-163.

New Orleans ACJS. Doug.

Polk Chapters 1 through 5. Pp 1-112

"As American as Apple Pie: A case study in gang violence." (hand out)

Polk Chapters 6 through 9. pp 113-212. Compare with Apple Pie article.

Presentation of Papers: 15 to 20 minutes. (Outline of final paper due)

Presentation of Papers

Presentation of Papers

Presentation of Papers, Final Exam, or……party!