New Recording 2

The film "Boys in the Hood" highlights the impact of gang culture on social mobility. Data shows that a significant percentage of gang members are Latinos and blacks. Symbolic interactionism helps explain why minorities join gangs despite understanding the negative consequences. Gang membership affects self-identity and behaviors. Lack of social mobility leads to incarceration, dropping out of school, and limited job opportunities. Social class constructs and cultural capital also hinder upward mobility. The film depicts the challenges faced by Trey and Ricky in their pursuit of a better life. Sociological articles analyze systemic inequalities and suggest solutions for promoting social change. Both macro and micro factors contribute to intergenerational poverty in the Black community. Resolutions involve improving family dynamics, funding public education, and addressing prejudice and gang violence. The film demonstrates that gang culture affects not only those involved but also those Boys in the Hood, Sociological View and Research. The Influence of Gang Culture on Social Mobility. In the 1991 film, Boys in the Hood, it is evident that a lack of social mobility affects the characters. There are various forms of social phenomenon that influences social issue, but I will specifically focus on the gang culture phenomenon among racial minorities. I identified the link between gang membership and a lack of social mobility by analyzing data provided by the National Gang Center, which analyzed the race of gang members and found that in 1996, 45% of gang members were Latinos and 35% were black. In 2011, it was 46% for Latinos and 35% for blacks. Theoretical Perspective Symbolic Interactionism. To effectively analyze the relationship between gang culture and a lack of intergenerational mobility within racial minorities, I will look at the issue through a symbolic interactionist lens. This micro-level perspective is most appropriate because it provides insight into the meaning and symbolism of gang culture to answer why minorities join gangs even when they understand the detrimental consequences. To understand why minorities join gangs and their relationship to social mobility, it is essential to know what a gang means to them. First, group membership determines human sense of self. When there is a dysfunctional relationship within the family or school, a person may seek social acceptance and self-identity through a gang. Those associated with their gang will naturally conform to group behaviors and peer influence to belong. A person's sense of self is dependent on their interactions with others and people gradually adapt their behaviors to how they are perceived and labeled by others. This is known as labeling theory, derived from a symbolic interactionist perspective. When a young adult is labeled as a gangster, criminal, bad, or stupid, it affects their sense of self and eventually their behaviors. The direct consequences of gang culture play a crucial role in the lives of minorities. Membership and dedication to gang culture, which commonly occurs in early adolescence, increases one's chance of incarceration, dropping out of school, a premature death, and an inability to get high-paying jobs due to a criminal record, lack of experience, and lack of educational requirements. All these factors inevitably affect a person's socioeconomic status, social progression, and the lives of their children due to its negative impact on the family unit. Typical Symbolic Interactionism – Social Mobility By analyzing intergenerational mobility from the classical school of thought, we can see how daily interactions and environment influences one's social standing and society's perception of distinct classes. Mead interpreted society as a constructive phenomenon where social class constructs patterns and behaviors according to symbolic meaning. Because class traits give people an idea of one's social standing, it influences the behavior and self-identity of others. For example, in the film, Doughboy takes note of Trey's nice clothing and then states that Trey is dressed like a person who sells drugs. This interaction tells me from Doughboy's perspective, luxury goods are obtained from a legal activity rather than working a job. This mindset can partially explain the glamorization of violence and crime within the community. The meaning we give to symbols can also cause people to associate them with a particular class, which creates stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Such biases and behaviors can lead to systemic disparities among minorities. Contemporary Conflict Theory – Social Mobility French sociologist Pierre Bourdeaux understood social stratification as a difference in access to power and material resources between social classes. He believed this access depended on access to four types of capital – economic, symbolic, social and cultural. These forms of capital can be leveraged to give people a social advantage. Relating to social mobility, we can see how these forms of capital hinder minorities from upward mobility. For example, social capital can help a person gain opportunities through nepotism to progress, but it can be more challenging when one does not have this type of capital. Through cultural capitalism, we can see how our culture normalizes behaviors that improve our life chances. For example, research has shown that Asians perform better in school because of their family background. In Asian households, education is heavily prioritized and parents influence their children to develop study habits that align with excellent grades. In contrast, cultures that do worse in school can reflect how their culture prioritizes education and good grades. These cultural and behavioral differences can profoundly affect one's chances of upward social mobility. In the film, we can see how a lack of economic, symbolic, social, and cultural capital affects the lives and options of Trey and Ricky, who want to advance socially but are hindered by many obstacles. For example, Ricky interviews for an academic scholarship because it is the only realistic way he will get into college due to a lack of economic capital. Sociological Articles. Article 1, Boys in the Hood and the Marginalization of Black Adolescent Males. This article critically examines the systemic inequalities that plague the black community, particularly the marginalization of black males, such as ineffective policing, low-quality public education, and the unequal allocation of resources when comparing minority communities to affluent ones. Another significant topic is the way justice is portrayed in the film. For example, when Trey's father calls the police, they take their time but would not do this in a more affluent community. The film is analyzed from a critical race theoretical perspective to highlight the normalization of racism in U.S. society. For example, the cultural bias of standardized tests and the stereotypes aimed towards Trey's mother for being an educated black woman. Lastly, Lee Shorn identifies changes that can be implemented within the black community to promote social change and a better life for black men. For example, he states that Doe Boy's likelihood of joining a gang would have decreased had he been involved in a summer enrichment program instead of wandering the streets. Lee Shorn's article provides insight into many institutional factors hindering the black community's social mobility. Article 2, Biopsychosocial Analysis, Boys in the Hood. This article examined Boys in the Hood through a biopsychosocial perspective to understand the factors influencing social mobility. It details the environment in which Trey grew up and how early exposure to drugs, alcohol, gang violence, and discrimination influenced his development. A social theory that supports this perspective is symbolic interactionism because it identifies how these factors may affect one's behavior and identity. It also analyzes how his interaction with his parents contributed to his refrainment from the criminal lifestyle of his peers. I believe Trey's parents' involvement significantly influenced his social perception. For example, many of Trey's friends likely associated guns with power, gang representation, and masculinity. However, Trey learned to associate guns with fear, destruction, and death. These ideas were likely instilled by his father who wanted Trey to become a better man. Trey had the emotional support of two parents who tried to guide, discipline, and keep him safe, contributing to his motivation for upward social mobility. If Trey did not have the support of his parents, he likely would have sought it out through the neighborhood gangs. Deferring Opinions Both articles examine the disparities that Black Africans face. However, the key difference between the two articles is that the first one focuses on outside factors that influence intergenerational poverty, such as institutions that marginalize Black men. In contrast, the second article aims to observe social issues from the neighborhood and understand how upbringing, peer groups, family, race, self-identity, and daily interactions can influence their lives. Inferences By analyzing articles deferring opinions and social patterns, I have concluded that both macro and micro level factors impact the lack of intergenerational mobility in the Black community. The resolutions to this issue are complex because of the various influences. For example, the family unit needs to progress because the dynamics between family members deeply impact the meaning we give to symbols and our own self-perception. Institutionally, the public education system should receive additional funds to compete with more affluent neighborhoods to give children a better educational experience. By analyzing the movie, I realized that the people who do not wish to be part of gang culture are still affected by it. For example, Trey was assumed to be a gangster and mistreated by the authorities as if he had done something wrong due to the prejudice of the officer and the substantial amount of gang violence in the neighborhood. Ricky, who wants to pursue a better life, becomes a victim of gang violence despite the fact that he refrained from it his entire life. His son will likely grow up to a single mother and be tied into the same lifestyle that his father, Ricky, wanted no part in. This shows how conformity to gang violence does not only affect the lives of people involved but also the lives of people who wish to escape intergenerational poverty.