Gangs and Pakistani youth

This dissertation will look into the causes and reasons for gang membership amongst young boys in Bradford, West Yorkshire who are of Pakistani heritage.
I have chosen to carry out this research because I have first hand experience of growing up as British Pakistani boy in Bradford and I also work as a Youth worker with boys of Pakistani heritage in the Bradford district.

The key themes in relation to this section of young people are issues of identity and Diaspora. In terms of identity, the issues which will be explored are the challenges facing British born Pakistani’s and the struggle to harmonize their lives between ancestral roots in South Asia and contemporary life in the UK. This connects with the issue of the Pakistani communities as a ‘Diaspora’ community, which basically means, a community living outside of their native land.
The core findings which emerge from the research are that a section of British born young Pakistanis still consider themselves as ‘Diaspora’ and are viewed as ‘Diaspora’ by some elements of the British society. This situation is causing social exclusion, social segregation and pathways towards gangs and crime.

In my research I will discuss, analyze and evaluate the relationship between identity confusion, cultural conflict and gang membership specifically amongst young boys of Pakistani heritage.

About the Author

Shakeel Aziz was born and raised in Keighley, West Yorkshire. He set up the STAR youth project in Keighley which became a nationally recognised project for workshop delivery on the issues of gangs, drugs and sexual grooming. Shakeel has recently completed his BA honours in Peace studies and Politics at the University of Bradford. He is currently working on more novels based around young people and society whilst also working towards his teaching qualification.

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