--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is that those who join gangs…" description: "\"The truth is that those who join gangs - more often than not they are young men in their later teens - often do come from the most difficult family bac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/chris-grayling-5175_belonging_the-truth-is-that-those-who-join-gangs-m_2993177.jpg" --- # The truth is that those who join gangs - more often than… ![“The truth is that those who join gangs - more often than not they are young men in their later teens - often do come from the most difficult family backgrounds, from an environment where they feel neglected and unwanted. Gang membership can bring a perverse sense of belonging which they may not…” quote by Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/chris-grayling-5175_belonging_the-truth-is-that-those-who-join-gangs-m_2993177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/chris-grayling-5175_belonging_the-truth-is-that-those-who-join-gangs-m_2993177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/chris-grayling-5175_belonging_the-truth-is-that-those-who-join-gangs-m_2993177.jpg) > “The truth is that those who join gangs - more often than not they are young men in their later teens - often do come from the most difficult family backgrounds, from an environment where they feel neglected and unwanted. Gang membership can bring a perverse sense of belonging which they may not have ever got at home.” [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gang members often come from harsh family backgrounds and seek belonging they lack at home, which can be a powerful draw. **In simple terms:** Young men join gangs for belonging when families fail them. Key Takeaway Address root causes of alienation. Themes social issues belonging youth Mood empathetic critical Type social psychological When to use this quote - intervention - policy reform Key Concepts family support community programs Questions to Reflect On - What community resources can replace gang belonging? - How can families be better supported? A Different Perspective Stigma can prevent seeking help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family background](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-background/) [Gangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangs/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sense Of Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-belonging/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [“Besides, it ain’t an accident that gangs are made up of young men who have nothing. We value our lives little enough to risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-meyer/besides-it-ain-t-an-accident-that-gangs-are-made-up-of-young-men-who/) [Scott Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-meyer/) > [Once I became a photographer, it stopped me being scared or intimidated by gangs of young men of whatever stripe. Initially, I could hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-ridgers/once-i-became-a-photographer-it-stopped-me-being-scared-or/) [Derek Ridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-ridgers/) > [I tried to join three gangs, and every single one gave me a different excuse, but it was pretty much along the lines of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-tried-to-join-three-gangs-and-every-single-one-gave-me-a-different/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [If young people had love, hope, true education, the arts, full and meaningful lives they won’t join gangs. My life since living the gang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-j-rodr-guez/if-young-people-had-love-hope-true-education-the-arts-full-and/) [Luis J. Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-j-rodr-guez/) > [These kids are looking for direction, for identification. Kids join gangs because they need a father figure or they want to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/these-kids-are-looking-for-direction-for-identification-kids-join/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [“Here are some reasons kids join gangs. You tell me which might be applicable here.” The list included: looking for a sense of respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/here-are-some-reasons-kids-join-gangs-you-tell-me-which-might-be/) [Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/) > [It's so unfortunate that people have this need to join gangs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-house/it-s-so-unfortunate-that-people-have-this-need-to-join-gangs/) [Rachel House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-house/) > [Don't join too many gangs. Join few if any. Join the United States and join the family- But not much in between unless a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/don-t-join-too-many-gangs-join-few-if-any-join-the-united-states-and/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Girls come to the gang for very different reasons than boys. For boys in marginalized communities, they have a gender problem, and they solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meda-chesney-lind/girls-come-to-the-gang-for-very-different-reasons-than-boys-for-boys/) [Meda Chesney-Lind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meda-chesney-lind/) > [So complex are all the ingredients that cause gang membership that it seems virtually impossible to isolate one solution that can address them all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/so-complex-are-all-the-ingredients-that-cause-gang-membership-that-it/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Social immobility is driven by family background, instability in childhood and often by parents who don't know how to give children the right start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/social-immobility-is-driven-by-family-background-instability-in/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Whether it is kids carrying knives because they are in gangs or kids carrying knives because they are afraid of gangs, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/whether-it-is-kids-carrying-knives-because-they-are-in-gangs-or-kids/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [The revolution is carried out by means of one's thought, not through one's family background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-il/the-revolution-is-carried-out-by-means-of-one-s-thought-not-through/) [Kim Jong Il](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-il/) > [My family background really only consists of my mother. She was a widow. My father died quite young; he must have been thirty-one. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/my-family-background-really-only-consists-of-my-mother-she-was-a/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More by Chris Grayling > [Some bailiffs were tacking on extra charges left, right and centre - a fee for every letter they sent, extra fees for visiting your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/some-bailiffs-were-tacking-on-extra-charges-left-right-and-centre-a/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [To survive in the future, we will need our economy to be dynamic, entrepreneurial, innovative and flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/to-survive-in-the-future-we-will-need-our-economy-to-be-dynamic/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [The trouble with the SNP is they want power without responsibility. They do not want to take difficult decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/the-trouble-with-the-snp-is-they-want-power-without-responsibility/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [I don't think all the cycle lanes in London have been designed as well as they should have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-don-t-think-all-the-cycle-lanes-in-london-have-been-designed-as/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [We must give individuals the opportunity to show what they are capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/we-must-give-individuals-the-opportunity-to-show-what-they-are/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Family breakdown is blighting the lives of far too many children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/family-breakdown-is-blighting-the-lives-of-far-too-many-children/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [I want to be the Tough Justice Secretary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-want-to-be-the-tough-justice-secretary/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [All too often, ambulance-chasing has been simple fraud. People are encouraged to launch a claim for whiplash when no one has been injured. Phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/all-too-often-ambulance-chasing-has-been-simple-fraud-people-are/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [The vast majority of young people in Britain are law-abiding citizens making important contributions to their communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/the-vast-majority-of-young-people-in-britain-are-law-abiding-citizens/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [It is already tough to buy a house. But if we are bringing a population the size of Newcastle upon Tyne into the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/it-is-already-tough-to-buy-a-house-but-if-we-are-bringing-a/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [The arrival of DNA testing has brought new dimensions to the investigation of crime. It has brought resolution to old cases where past investigators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/the-arrival-of-dna-testing-has-brought-new-dimensions-to-the/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [European businesses will want to retain free-trade access to the U.K. - their biggest export market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/european-businesses-will-want-to-retain-free-trade-access-to-the-u-k/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [No one would normally accuse me of being soft on crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/no-one-would-normally-accuse-me-of-being-soft-on-crime/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Few escape our most deprived estates. Few young people with potential escape difficult upbringings. Fewer cross the social divides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/few-escape-our-most-deprived-estates-few-young-people-with-potential/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) [Explore all 103 Chris Grayling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) ## More Belonging quotes > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [I always think the best way of motivating yourself is to put yourself in a situation where you feel like you're belonging to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-always-think-the-best-way-of-motivating-yourself-is-to-put-yourself/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [It is a well-settled principle of the international code that where one nation owes another a liquidated debt which it refuses or neglects to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/it-is-a-well-settled-principle-of-the-international-code-that-where/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I am convinced that human nature is basically affectionate and good. If our behavior follows our kind and loving nature, immense benefits will result,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-convinced-that-human-nature-is-basically-affectionate-and-good/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The reason “belonging” was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-reason-belonging-was-so-potent-so-attractive-so-much-a-part-of/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [If some student belonging to weaker section of society suffers distress, humanity says it must be addressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-jaitley/if-some-student-belonging-to-weaker-section-of-society-suffers/) [Arun Jaitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-jaitley/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [My father was a man of great charity towards the poor, and compassion for the sick, and also for servants; so much so, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-father-was-a-man-of-great-charity-towards-the-poor-and-compassion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe the problem with the world is, that people are too quick to judge. And out of desperation, the loneliness creeps in like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/maybe-the-problem-with-the-world-is-that-people-are-too-quick-to/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The hardest thing about being at Sony was not the travel; it was being divorced from the public and private life I had in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stringer/the-hardest-thing-about-being-at-sony-was-not-the-travel-it-was-being/) [Howard Stringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stringer/) > [Whenever you are examining someone else's belongings, you are bound to learn many interesting things about the person of which you were not previously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-you-are-examining-someone-else-s-belongings-you-are-bound-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 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