Gang Culture In 'The Outsiders'

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Pages: 3

Module 9 Discussion

Based on what I have read from “The Outsiders” reading, gang culture was created in the 1950s by increased violence in youth culture, tensions and conflicts between other cultures and social prestige in America. Throughout history, gangs developed by anger, jealously, bitterness and hatred due to materialistic things and different cultural perspectives. What I did not see at all was racial identity being a factor for rivalry to whether it was goods and resources in the story. Whether one was a Greaser or a Socs, power, control, humiliation and social status were important key components to which ever group one belonged to. Other aspects beside the novel to why gang activity was also developed was due to: after the Cold War and vast increases in population growth and demographic / social changes that transformed America.
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The story is about how Ponyboy, Darry and Soda are three young boys who stick together after the loss of their parents. The Socs did whatever they could to have superiority and control over the Greasers. On the other hand, the Greasers were a group that looked out for each other. This gave them a sense of security and protection for watching out for one another. All three boys felt as if they were brothers in a family by helping each other. The Greasers are seen as poor people while the Socs are more of an upper class group. The youngest teen “Pony,” who is fourteen years old realizes how grateful he is to have family support and takes care of him. Especially, when violence erupts from the