Research Catalog

Title

Gangsters without borders : an ethnography of a Salvadoran street gang / T.W. Ward.

Author

Ward, Thomas W., 1957-

Publication

New York ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, c2013.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xxi, 230 p. : ill., map; 21 cm.

Summary

"Based on author T.W. Ward's eight and a half years in Los Angeles conducting participant observation with MS-13, Gangsters Without Borders: An Ethnography of a Salvadoran Street Gang takes an inside look at gang life in the United States and in a global context. Taking us through their journey from their homeland in El Salvador to the mean streets of Los Angeles, Gangsters Without Borders offers a perspective from the point of view of the hard-core members who live this hard, fast, and dangerous life. A powerful and engaging overview of gang dynamics, Gangsters Without Borders contextualizes the sources and severity of the marginalization felt by Salvadoran immigrants and debunks myths about street gangs in the United States. This account of gangster's lives before, during, and after their involvement with the gang, delivers an intimate and analytical portrait unlike any other."--Publisher's website.

Subjects

• Gang members > California > Los Angeles > Social conditions
• Hispanic American gangs > California > Los Angeles
• Immigrant youth > California > Los Angeles > Social conditions
• MS-13 (Gang)
• Salvadorans > California > Los Angeles > Social conditions

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 202-226) and index.

Contents

War Trauma and the Cycle of Violence. José Amaya Is Introduced His Background and Reasons for Joining MS ; Stereotypes of Street Gangs ; Street Gangs as Surrogate Families ; My Background and How the Research Got Started ; Methodology ; Research Objectives ; Further Methodological Issues ; Confidentiality ; Composite Characters ; 'Hard-core Gangsters' ; Themes of Subsequent Chapters. -- The Beauty and the Horror-Memories of El Salvador. José Becomes Trouble ; Trouble's Fond Homeland Memories ; Cuscatlán, Land of Riches ; Revolution in El Salvador ; Terror in the Streets and at Home ; Family Ruptures ; Crossing Borders. -- Hard Times-Welcome to America. Family Reunion-Mending the Bonds of Trust ; Tongue Tied and Bullied ; Gang Initiation-Welcome to the Barrio ; The Anatomy of a Decision ; Escape from Misery ; Jales, Jainas y Ranflas. -- From Prey to Predators: The Origins and Transformation of MS. Origin Myths of Mara Salvatrucha ; A Devil's Pact: The Mara Salvatrucha Stoners ; The Structure and Leadership of Street Gangs ; Who Calls the Shots? ; Democratic Anarchy: Collective Leadership within MS ; Gang Taboos Boredom in Street Gang Life ; Banging and Slanging. -- 'Girls' in Gangs--On the Margins of Masculinity. The Death of Lonely ; Angel's Decision to Join MS ; Rebels and Runaways ; Sexing In-'The Easy Way' ; 'Trust No Bitch'-Spies, Snitches, Traitors, and Rats ; The Sexual Double Standard ; Dating the Enemy ; The 'Catch 22' of Respect ; Pregnancy and Motherhood ; 'Mothers of Us All' ; Angel's Descent. -- Live Fast, Die Young. Street Gangs as Warrior Societies ; Who's the Enemy? ; Gang Warfare ; The Enemy Within ; Suicide-Grief and Loss ; 'The World's Most Dangerous Gang'. -- Becoming Calmado. Exiting the Gang ; De Corazón-The Heart Connection ; More Die of Heartbreak-The Process of Disillusionment ; 'The Devil We Know' ; Afterlives. -- Epilogue. Possible Interventions for Gang Members.

Call Number

JFD 13-1190

ISBN

• 9780199859061 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 019985906X (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

2011051378

OCLC

771056718

Author

Ward, Thomas W., 1957-

Title

Gangsters without borders : an ethnography of a Salvadoran street gang / T.W. Ward.

Imprint

New York ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, c2013.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (p. 202-226) and index.

Research Call Number

JFD 13-1190