Journal article
The limits of digital liberation: The social locations of gang-affiliated girls and women in the digital streets
Journal of criminal justice, Vol.96, 102344
01/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102344
PMCID: PMC11928011
PMID: 40125537
Abstract
This study investigates the social network structure of an online gang forum, focusing on the social location of gang-affiliated girls and women in the “digital streets.” Existing studies highlight how gang members use social media for masculine posturing and promoting violent identities, but there is a significant gap in understanding the digital engagement of girls and women in gangs. Specifically, few studies have directly examined the network positionality of girls and women through social network analysis of digital data. Our research addresses this gap by analyzing user-to-user interactions on a public Facebook page popular among Chicago-area gang members, circa 2015–2016 (4231 positive and negative interactions across 37,403 comments from 6829 user profiles). Digital platforms could offer a space where girls and women who claim gang affiliation can be liberated from analog constraints in establishing gang centrality. Findings indicate, however, that girls and women remain in peripheral network positions, undermining the liberation hypothesis. Our findings challenge optimistic narratives about the liberating potential of social media, underscore the persistence of misogyny in gang culture, and contribute to understanding how digitalization affects gang dynamics.
•One of the first analyses of gang-affiliated girls and women in a digital environment, using Facebook interaction data.•Analyzed 4231 positive and negative interactions across 37,403 comments from 6829 user profiles on a Chicago-area gang-related Facebook page (2015–2016).•Findings show girls and women hold peripheral roles in networks, questioning the "liberation hypothesis" on digital platforms.•Provides new insights into how digitalization influences gang dynamics and the positioning of marginalized members.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The limits of digital liberation: The social locations of gang-affiliated girls and women in the digital streets
- Creators
- John Leverso - University of CincinnatiKate K. O'Neill - University of Iowa, Department of Sociology, North Hall, 401, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States of AmericaAlex Knorre - Boston CollegeGeorge Mohler - Boston College
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of criminal justice, Vol.96, 102344
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102344
- PMID
- 40125537
- PMCID
- PMC11928011
- ISSN
- 0047-2352
- eISSN
- 1873-6203
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- AFOSR MURI grant: P2C HD042828
Partial support for this research came from a Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development research infrastructure grant, P2C HD042828, to the Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology at the University of Washington. Research support also came from AFOSR MURI grant #FA9550-22-1-0380.r infrastructure grant, P2C HD042828, to the Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology at the University of Washington. Research support also came from AFOSR MURI grant #FA9550-22-1-0380.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984769724202771
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