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Social Construction of Meaning: Gangs and Fraternities in Atlanta

HOWARD, DESTINY S
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085713278

Abstract Details

2004, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Sociology.
How we define groups is important to the way we perceive their activity. Gangs and fraternities are two groups defined very differently even though they share similar ideologies and histories. In this paper I argue that the meaning about gangs and fraternities are projected images about the group created through claims make about them by claimsmakers in the media, more specifically the newspaper. Historically fraternities were formed to create a venue for young collegiate men to express themselves, form a brotherhood, and establish a familial connection with other young men at the institution. Gangs were also established out of a need to secure something; most inner city gangs were established to control “turf”. They had a latent function of fulfilling familial needs and a sense of brotherhood. Over time fraternities acquired a more positive image despite the misdeeds of contemporary fraternities who have been cited on numerous counts of hazing, underage drinking and rape. Gangs, on the other hand have had to deal with the stereotype of being poor minorities, who frequent juvenile offenders, from inner city neighborhoods. In comparing newspaper articles taken from The Atlanta Journal and Constitution concerning an incident involving a gang and another involving a fraternity I found that claims of fraternity members were frequently used in constructing meaning about the incident and the perpetrators while no gang members’ claims were used. Furthermore, when charged with similar crimes, perpetrators in the fraternity incident received a less severe punishment than perpetrators in the gang incident.
Annulla Linders (Advisor)
75 p.
Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
gangs fraternities violence

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • HOWARD, D. S. (2004). Social Construction of Meaning: Gangs and Fraternities in Atlanta [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085713278

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • HOWARD, DESTINY. Social Construction of Meaning: Gangs and Fraternities in Atlanta. 2004. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085713278.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • HOWARD, DESTINY. "Social Construction of Meaning: Gangs and Fraternities in Atlanta." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085713278

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1085713278
1,512
© 2004, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.