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An Exploration of Formerly Gang Involved Asians

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An Exploration of Formerly Gang Involved Asians University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2015-07-30 Going Legit: An Exploration of Formerly Gang Involved Asians Hoang, Michael Hoang, M. (2015). Going Legit: An Exploration of Formerly Gang Involved Asians (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26313 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2372 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Going Legit: An Exploration of Formerly Gang Involved Asians by Michael Hoang A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN SOCIOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA JULY, 2015 © Michael Hoang 2015 Abstract While the entering of a gang has been extensively researched, the exit of one is given little attention. In addition research examining the participation by Asians is scarce. This study utilized interviews to explore how Asians defined, entered, and exited gang involvement. Gang membership was defined in terms of Asian ethnicity, based on the media narratives that portrayed them as the primary offenders in Alberta. Membership was also defined by utilization of tattoos and participation in criminal activities (i.e. drug dealing). Asians in this study were attracted to gangs due the pull factors of financial and social autonomy, which in turn provided them with respect. They were influenced to exit gang involvement based on the culmination of experiences and thoughts surrounding family, death/violence, and imprisonment. The strategies utilized to enable these exits comprised limiting or cutting off contacts, keeping busy with pro- social activities, and tattoo concealment or removal. 1 Acknowledgements To see this project to final completion after periods of doubt, procrastination and struggle makes it so much more satisfying. Without the support and guidance of others, I would have never completed this journey. To my advisor Dr. Michael Adorjan, thank you for taking me under your wing and making my time in graduate school as enjoyable and straightforward as possible. The constant feedback and regular nerd talks helped keep my sanity intact. This journey would not have begun without the encouragement and support of my undergraduate mentors; Dr. Irene Shankar and Dr. Tracy Nielsen. Without the both of you I would have not made it into graduate school or even have known what it was. I would not have had the confidence to recognize what I was capable of and that I had something to contribute to the academy, if the both of you did not encourage me throughout my time at Mount Royal University. Thank you to everyone in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary. The constant support I received, brought me back up when my confidence began to waver. In addition, if you had not accepted me into the program, I would have “stopped committing sociology” and gotten a business degree instead. To those who participated in my study when many others could/did not, without your cooperation this would have not been possible at all. In addition thanks to the Social Sciences Humanities Research Council as the generous funding I received allowed me to complete this thesis on time. 2 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my best friend. Your departure out of the lifestyle provided inspiration to myself and many others to live a better life. Before you passed, I remember you telling me that you got out the “game” because you did not want your kids to grow up without a father like you did. Although you were not able to keep that from happening and watch your kids grow up, they will always remember you as a good man who did everything for his kids. I love and miss you. 3 Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................2 Dedication ............................................................................................................................3 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................4 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................6 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................7 Method .............................................................................................................................8 Study Limitations .............................................................................................................9 Defining Gangs, Race, Ethnicity and Culture ................................................................10 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................11 Contributions .................................................................................................................12 Chapter Summary ..........................................................................................................13 CHAPTER ONE: LITERATURE REVIEW .....................................................................14 Defining Gangs ..............................................................................................................14 Ethnicity, Race and Culture ...........................................................................................17 Characteristics of Gangs ................................................................................................18 Tattoos and Gang Membership ................................................................................20 Push Factors of Gang Membership by Racial and Ethnic Minorities ............................20 Pull factors of Gang Membership by Racial and Ethnic Minorities ..............................25 Desistance and Role Exit ...............................................................................................27 Motivations ....................................................................................................................28 The Process of Leaving Gangs ......................................................................................33 The Strategies of Leaving Gangs ...................................................................................37 Study Relevance ............................................................................................................40 CHAPTER TWO: METHODS ..........................................................................................42 Insider Status ..................................................................................................................44 Data Collection ..............................................................................................................45 Population ......................................................................................................................46 Sampling ........................................................................................................................47 Table 1 Participant Characteristics ...........................................................................48 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................51 Epistemology and Ontology Perspective .......................................................................52 Frame Building, and Themes .........................................................................................52 Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................53 CHAPTER FOUR: BACKGROUND TO GANG ACTIVITY IN ALBERTA ................55 Frame Analysis ..............................................................................................................56 Table 2: Asian Gangs in the News: Features of a Frame .........................................57 Table 3 Timeline – Background to the Asian Gang problem in Alberta .......................59 Calgary’s Gang Conflict ................................................................................................60 An Introduction the “Asian Gang Problem” ..................................................................61 4 The Fear of Asian Gangs Spread ..............................................................................61 Confronting the Asian Gang Problem ......................................................................62 Others confronting the Asian Gang Problem ...........................................................64 Framing Solutions ..........................................................................................................64 Contesting the Racialization of Gangs and Crime .........................................................66 Media representations of Gangs Evolve ........................................................................67
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