University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2010 Evolution Of The Folk Devil: A Social Network Perspective Of The Hybrid Gang Label Christian Bolden University of Central Florida Part of the Sociology Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Bolden, Christian, "Evolution Of The Folk Devil: A Social Network Perspective Of The Hybrid Gang Label" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 4280. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/4280 EVOLUTION OF THE FOLK DEVIL: A SOCIAL NETWORK PERSPECTIVE OF THE HYBRID GANG LABEL by CHRISTIAN BOLDEN B.S.A.S. Southwest Texas State University, 2003 M.A. Texas State University, 2005 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Sociology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term 2010 Major Professor: Lin Huff-Corzine © 2010 Christian L Bolden ii ABSTRACT In keeping abreast of current gang phenomena, this study seeks to comparatively examine structural processes and characteristics of gangs in chronic gang city, San Antonio, and an emerging gang city that would be more likely to have “hybrid” gangs, Orlando. Hybrid gangs have been identified as having organizational processes that differ from traditional gangs; thus, this work will examine these processes that consist of a range of non-traditional phenomena, including cooperation between gangs, members switching gang affiliations, gang initiations, and members leaving gangs. Additional characteristics uniquely associated with hybrid gangs consist of the notable presence of white, middle-class, and female gang members. Evidence suggests that the hybrid gang is more of a socially constructed moral panic than a reality. A limited number of recent studies have indicated that some gangs may better fit into a social network framework rather than a solid organizational analysis. When using the social network framework it becomes apparent that alleged hybrid behaviors are no different from regular gang behaviors regardless of geographic location. Claims about hybrid gangs serve to increase the idea of gang members as folk devils and cause undue concern of normal behaviors. iii This work is dedicated to my parents Debra Masey and Thomas Bolden. Your son has risen from the ashes like a Phoenix. There is no limit to what we can do. I love you both. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am extremely grateful to Dr. Lin Huff-Corzine, for motivating me, and always being there for advice and support. I would like to say thanks to Jay Corzine and Liz Grauerholz for all of the things they did both great and small to help me along the way. I certainly cannot forget the gratitude I have for Dr. Jody Miller, who helped me expand my horizons, opened up more of the academic world for me, and ensured the rigorousness of my research. I would like to thank my spouse Magu Bolden, for always believing in me and keeping me at it. And last but not least I want to thank all of the people that made this project possible, Angus Evelyn-Raveneau, Phoebe Alvarado, Michael Whitehawk, Kevin Santamaria, Valerie Warshawsky, Emma Grauerholz- Fisher, Colleen Powers, Laura Errington, Leanna Serretiello, and all the respondents that shared some of their lives with me. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ viii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................1 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW...............................................................................8 National Gang Migration ..................................................................................................................... 9 Structural Typologies......................................................................................................................... 10 Changes and Splintering .................................................................................................................... 17 Organizations or Networks ................................................................................................................ 18 Hybrids ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Initiation ............................................................................................................................................ 22 Leaving ............................................................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER THREE: THEORETICAL AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ......................... 26 Social Construction and Moral Panics ................................................................................................ 26 Social Network Analysis.................................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER FOUR: METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... 46 Definition .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Area Demographics ........................................................................................................................... 49 Research Questions ........................................................................................................................... 58 Data .................................................................................................................................................. 59 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 66 Methodological Issues and Reflexivity ............................................................................................... 69 CHAPTER FIVE: GANG MEMBERS AND GANG CHARACTERISTICS ............................ 73 Migration .......................................................................................................................................... 73 Membership Type .............................................................................................................................. 75 White and Middle-Class Gang Members ............................................................................................ 78 Gender .............................................................................................................................................. 82 Initiation ............................................................................................................................................ 84 Leaving the Gang ............................................................................................................................... 93 Escaping the Gang ............................................................................................................................. 95 Reasons ............................................................................................................................................. 99 Levels of Gang Activity ................................................................................................................... 102 CHAPTER SIX: GANG SOCIAL NETWORKS .................................................................... 107 vi Affiliations ...................................................................................................................................... 107 Group-Level Relationships .............................................................................................................. 114 Social Network Ties ........................................................................................................................ 116 CHAPTER SEVEN: GANG NETWORKS, CLIQUES, AND SOCIAL CAPITAL ................. 127 Gang Networks ................................................................................................................................ 127 Cliques and Social Capital ............................................................................................................... 134 CHAPTER EIGHT: HYBRID GANG CLAIMS ..................................................................... 139 CHAPTER NINE: CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................... 154 APPENDIX A: GANG INDEX ............................................................................................... 162 APPENDIX B: SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW SCHEDULE ........................................ 178 Demographics ................................................................................................................................. 179 Activity and Structure .....................................................................................................................