Customer Reviews

Dead End Kids: Gang Girls and the Boys They Know

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I write this review merely to respond to allegations that Fleisher is irresponsible. First of all, before you make that claim, enroll in one sociology course. Research like this is vital to understanding how humans operate, and without such research (not just about gangs, but about many aspects of life) policy recommendations would not be accurate, and problems would not be addressed appropriately. Had Fleisher reported all of the crimes that occurred during his time there, his research would have ended. As it is, there is very little research done on girls in gangs. Second, if you had completed the book, you would have seen that Fleisher did have a friend report what he saw with Amy and RoniRo (p 247 -- second full paragraph.) Third, he didn't approve of the gang girls choices to sell drugs -- he said he understood it. Granted that is a choice that most people cannot understand, but after witnessing all that he did, how can you blame him for being disenfranchised?

Clearly, much more research needs to be done on girls in gangs, as this was a study confined to one city. But Fleisher has done a fabulous job explaining the motivations and lifestyles of girls in Kansas City, and purported to do nothing more. Before you so harshly criticize a writer, please make sure that you fully understand what you are discussing.

I rarely ever come across "page turners" when it comes to reading sociology works -- but I was not able to put Dead End Kids down. This book is a real gem because it does two great things -- 1) puts one rawly in touch with other's lives, and 2) sets forth social policy suggestions based on the research. Having stumbled across this book in the library by random, I now plan to reading more of Fleisher's work.

This book is how research should not be done! I am from Kansas City and know idividuals involved. Fleisher is not only biased but is completly unethical. He made promises that he did not keep and abandoned these kids when it suited him. I feel sorry that these kids trusted someone and were only taken advantage of once again. Very sad that this his "study" has been given any credit as being either scientific or even useful when it comes to gang intervention. If it would not boost his sales, I would recommend this book to any teacher who is trying to teach students what not to do. However, I would hate to see him profit off his exploitation of these kids.

The author handled the situations almost perfectly and I applaud him for that. Being a reformed gang member I was suprised that he even got these kid to trust him enough not to think he was the feds. People complain about how he allowed them to smoke and deal drugs but if he had tried to stop them he would have been dead.

If you feel the author of this book was irresponsible, then you have something coming. Go to college and understand how important research like this is. Then you will understand why is was important for him to preserve the culture in order to study it. The whole pretense of research, especially an ethnography, is that people trust you so you can study the truth and show your findings to the rest of the world. He found a lot in this research and this wouldn't have happened if he "told" on them.

This book gives an accurate description of the emotional issues teen gangster, especially females, face today. As a Gang Expert, I like the fact that this book shows the gang youth as people and delves into their personal struggles and life situations. Gang Members are people too. This book depicts just that!

Fleischer desribes the awful conditions that these kids live in and then places the blame on the police, Division of Family Services, the Juvenile Court system, and finally the "entire community of Kansas City." He not only was irresponsible for his failure to hotline these kids, he actually condones their drug dealing. He said he didn't see any other option they had. Give me a break! There are four social service agency willing to help within walking distance of these kids and Fleischer never mentions that.

Overall, a poorly written book by an irresponsible professor.

Fleisher vividly describes the abusive treatment the children of these gansters received from their parents and their ganster friends, the filth they lived in, the lack of food and the overall dangerous living conditions. Did he report this to Family Services? Professor Fleisher is a mandated reporter and conducting research for a best seller should not discount his responsibility to those children in helping to make them safe. I am appalled that a Criminal Justice professor would write with such coldness and lack of concern: "It always took me a week to 10 days before I stopped recalling in my mind's eye the sight of Amy and RoniRo sequestered with Teresa and Kevin." pg. 97 I hope Professor Fleisher sleeps well knowing these children will soon be teenagers and his contribution to their well-being.