Gang Members' Experiences of Victimization and Perpetration Of
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UWC Theses and Dissertations University of the Western Cape Faculty of Community and Health Sciences Gang Members’ Experiences of Victimization and Perpetration of Rape in Prison LIZELLE ALBERTSE A mini thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Magister Artium in Child and Family Studies: Department of Social Work University of Western Cape Supervisor: Prof. S. Terblanché May 2007 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • I want to thank Dr. Marcel Londt for believing in me and inspired me to start one of the greatest challenges of my life. • To Prof. Susan Terblanché, my supervisor, for picking up the pieces and giving me faith in research again, for her guidance, insightful supervision and patience. • To Chris Malgas for his assistance in the interview process and sharing of his comprehensive knowledge and expertise of the gang culture in prison. • To Chris Giffard for his time, guidance and valuable inputs. • To Shelley and Maria for their patience, support and inspiration. • To all my dear friends: Wadeeah, Sam, Elaine, Joan, Yolanda, Melanie, Murasiet, Leonora, Riaan, Eddie and Francois for all their interest, assistance and encouragement. • My father who brought me up to believe in myself and taught me the art of perseverance. i ABSTRACT People outside of prison tend to imagine sex in prison as violent gang attacks on defenceless individuals, but in actual fact, sex in prison is more complicated than the isolated gang rapes that take place. For the purpose of this study, the researcher followed the qualitative research approach from a constructivist perspective to understand how participants portrayed or constructed their experiences of victimization and/or perpetration of rape. The population of the study was members of the ‘28’ prison gang with a history of sexual perpetration in prison. Participants for the study were male, released from prison, ages between 25 and 45 years of age. The researcher made use of purposive sampling in the selection of 15 participants. Data was collected through in depth, face to face interviews starting with open ended questions and probing for in depth experiences, interpretations and meanings. Data was analyzed according to Creswell’s (1998:140) guidelines for qualitative data analysis and was verified as suggested by Creswell (1998:201). In order to explore the social context that might have influenced their constructions of experiences, the following question themes were identified: • Participant’s experiences of family life • Participant’s experiences of their involvement in crime • Participant’s gang involvement in Corrective Institutions • Participant’s experiences of forced sex in prison • Consequences of rape in prison after release The following key words were used: Rape in prison, perpetrators, victims, 28-gang, ‘wyfie’, sex, sexual abuse ii KEYWORDS • Rape in Prison • Perpetrators • Victims • 28-gang • ‘Wyfie’ • Sex • Sexual Abuse iii DECLARATION I declare that Gang Members’ Experiences of Victimization and Perpetration of Rape is my own work, that it has not been submitted for any degree or examination in any other university, and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by complete references. Full name………………………………………….Date…………………………......... Signed……………………………………………… iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1.......................................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS TO THE CHAPTER.................................................................................. 1 1.2 CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT ......................................................................................................... 5 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION................................................................................................................................. 5 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY.................................................................................................................. 5 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................................... 6 1.6.1 GOAL OF THE RESEARCH........................................................................................................................ 6 1.6.2 RESEARCH APPROACH............................................................................................................................. 6 1.6.3 STRATEGY OF INQUIRY........................................................................................................................... 6 1.6.4 POPULATION, SAMPLING AND RECRUITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS .............................................. 7 1.6.5 DATA COLLECTION METHOD................................................................................................................. 7 1.6.6 PILOTING OF INTERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 8 1.6.7 DATA-COLLECTION PROCESS................................................................................................................ 9 1.6.7.1 Selecting the interview setting .................................................................................................................... 9 1.6.7.2 Conducting the interview ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.6.7.3 Taking notes.............................................................................................................................................. 10 1.6.7.4 Concluding the interview .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.6.8 DATA ANALYSIS...................................................................................................................................... 11 1.6.9 DATA VERIFICATION.............................................................................................................................. 12 1.6.10 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................................... 13 1.6.11 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY............................................................................................................. 14 1.6.12 DEFINITIONS OF CONCEPTS ............................................................................................................... 14 1.6.13 LAYOUT OF THE REPORT .................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2........................................................................................................................................................ 17 A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE ON GANG ACTIVITIES.................................................................... 17 2.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION OF GANGS.......................................................................................... 18 2.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF GANGS................................................................................................................ 19 2.3.1 STREET GANGS: STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES............................................................................... 19 2.3.2 PRISON GANGS: STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES............................................................................... 22 2.4 SUMMARY OF THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND VIEWS ON THE FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF GANGS............................................................................................................................... 23 2.4.1 STRAIN THEORY...................................................................................................................................... 23 2.4.2 SUBCULTURE THEORY .......................................................................................................................... 24 2.4.3 DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY............................................................................................. 25 2.4.4 SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY................................................................................................................. 25 2.4.5 SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY ................................................................................................ 26 2.4.6 LABELING THEORY................................................................................................................................. 26 2.4.7 THE CONCEPT OF POWER...................................................................................................................... 27 2.5 GANGS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT......................................................................................... 27 2.5.1 COMMUNITY/STREET GANGS .............................................................................................................