Going Down To The Barrio: Homeboys and Homegirls in Change [Paperback]

Joan Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 1991

In this illuminating look at two Chicano gangs in East Los Angeles, Joan W. Moore examines the changes and continuities among three generations of barrio gangs. As a sequel to the author's award-winning study, "Homeboys" (Temple, 1979), this book returns to the same neighborhoods to chart the development of gang behavior, especially in terms of violence and drug use, and to compare experiences of male and female gang members. In a remarkable research collaborative effort, Moore and gang members worked together to develop an understanding of both male and female gangs and an internal vision of gang members' lives. By using excerpts from individual interviews, the author depicts more about the gangs than simply their life together as a unit; she gives them a voice. Gang members discuss their personal reaction to violence, drug using and selling, family relations and intra-gang dating; they share intimacies that reveal varying levels of loyalty to and dependency on their affiliations, which often become a family substitute. After maintaining neighborhood ties for 17 years, Moore's research group has established a relationship with these communities that gives her a rare perspective. This is a fascinating and informative book for anyone interested in sociology, criminology, youth behavior and deviance, and ethnic studies. Joan W. Moore is Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This sequel to Homeboys: Gangs, Drugs, and Prisons in the Barrios of Los Angeles (Temple Univ. Pr., 1978) is based on continuing research begun by Moore and Carlos Garcia. It traces the 45 years of two Chicano youth gangs in Los Angeles. Through analysis of economic trends and hundreds of trenchant interviews, she has unearthed evidence that the stereotypes of Hispanic youth gangs promoted by the media are mistaken and alarmist. Hers is one of the few studies to cover girl gangs in depth. She offers copious statistics to show that what changed these gangs from primarily ethnic social groups to many that deal in drugs and crime was the increased unemployability of young barrio men. Index, bibliography, notes, charts, methods, and somewhat dry text indicate that this is aimed at the scholarly and professional community.
- Anne Osborn, Youth Training Sch., Ontario, Cal.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"This book makes a number of important and new contributions to our knowledge of gangs and is extremely timely. Among its major contributions is its balance in attention to both male and female gangs, and a view gang behavior over three generations which affords insights into changes and continuities in gang activity that are just not available elsewhere."
—William Kornblum, Professor of Sociology, City University of New York Graduate Center

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (November 14, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877228558
• ISBN-13: 978-0877228554
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,319,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great book!, December 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Going Down To The Barrio: Homeboys and Homegirls in Change (Paperback)

This was truly a great book! I enjoyed it and all the other books about gangs. You should read this when you get the chance. And I liked how it talked about the girl gangsters because most of these books are mostly just about the guys in the gangs. We need more books about the girls. I could read it again.