Navigating Neighborhood Institutions: Gang Involvement

Abstract

MONICA: me and C., stopped getting along because—I felt like she was ta—it was so awkward because—we were fighting for the stupidest reason—I felt like she was taking my place—like they were showing her a lot of attention and this and that—but she was getting attention from the little guys. The big guys—would never—you know—they didn’t trust her like they trusted me—so, I—you know—I still thought I was the shit. And they had me so manipulated—that I thought—I was running—because you know I was the only girl ever allowed to—to roll with them cars—I was the only girl—to count money for them—to—you know—to do everything—I was the only girl allowed in the houses. I thought I had moved up in the world…I just thought I was on top of the world, you know—oh my God—these—these main guys respect me and they trust me and—and this is what I always wanted…