How to Write Stories People Will Love

Question 95: Characters in gangs

EndlessInkspiration asks: What happens if I want to write about being in a gang, but don't want to make the typical stereotypes of it. Which in fact some of them might be true, because c'mon gang members don't want to work to get their money... legally you know?

Gang membership isn't always about money. And those who do join to make more money usually have compelling reasons for doing so. You can go beyond the stereotype by delving into the complex emotions that go into making such a decision. First, though, let's explore the various reasons one might choose to join a gang.

Idolization - Maybe an older sibling is in the gang, and because the younger sibling looks up to the older one and just wants to be with them (or be like them) they want to join too.

Inclusion - Connection with others is a basic human need. If one's family life at home doesn't meet this need, they will seek it elsewhere.

Stability - Feeling secure is an incredibly important human need that exists at a primal level. If one's family life is awful or unstable, gangs may seem like a more viable option to bring that sense of safety into one's life. Conversely, if a gang is terrorizing an area, joining it may seem like a way to protect one's family.

Financial Security - Along similar lines as Stability above, having enough money to buy what you need or pay off debts is a big motivation. If jobs aren't readily available or seem out of reach, crime seems like an easy option. It's high risk and high reward, but sometimes the risk isn't apparent at first.

Let's explore the last sentence in the question that inspired this chapter... "gang members don't want to work to get their money legally". This is the kind of broad statement that perpetuates stereotypes. Let's amend it first: SOME gang members don't want to work at regular jobs.

It's true, some don't. Now let's explore why, because the first thing most people think when they hear someone doesn't want to work a normal job is they're lazy. Lazy people don't want to work at all. They are the ones mooching off a girlfriend/boyfriend or living in mommy's basement forever. I don't see how gangs would be appealing to them. From what I understand, gangs require some work.

Choosing Crime vs a Standard Job

In our hearts, the vast majority of us are good people. The decisions we make are always to meet some kind of need within us. Sometimes we have to choose between two undesirable things to meet that need. Follow the upstanding path and make very little money, or commit crimes to make enough money.

Ambition is another motivation to follow a life of crime. Ambition stems from the need to matter, to feel important. There are many ways to meet this need, but crime might be the most readily available depending on circumstances.

Impatience also leads many to follow crime, since it seems to be the easier path at first. Working one's way up any kind of social or economical ladder can feel like a tedious process when one wants results right away.

In your story, it'll be important to show what your character is going through that pushes him or her in the direction of gangs. That makes them more relatable. When you focus on motivations, the story feels more authentic.

Tysongirl123 adds a great point:

It's also important to note that most gangs formed to be the police where no police would enter (ie underprivileged or extremely dangerous neighborhoods) because sometimes (for some reason) they feel as if there's nothing they can do. It just so happens that in policing their neighborhoods, they became the very thing they sought to get rid of--usually for financial purposes--but also because they aimed to win the battle between rival gangs.

If you watch On My Block on Netflix, there's a great explanation on what the gang originally stood for before it was kind of corrupted.