We're not a gang, we're a group : A micro-ethnographic study on the roles of football, religion and community in the work with youth delinquency in Panama City
The purpose of this study was to understand what, according to social workers and people with criminal backgrounds in Panama, contributes to change in criminal behaviour amongst delinquent youth with focusing on projects using football, religion and community as changing means. The empirical data was collected according to micro-ethnographical requirements and consisted of twelve hours of observations, seven interviews and additional information through web pages and brochures. The results were analysed through the theories of Social Identity by Richard Jenkins and the Symbolic construction of Community by Anthony P. Cohen. The study showed on a number of important aspects that contribute to change with football, religion an community as primary means. Factors such as a sense of belonging in a setting of relationships, an identity through self-esteem and social recognition and leaders with ’the right kind of experience’ were identified as contributors to change. The roles that football, religion and community play generate different consequences depending on what level they are analysed at. The study also highlights the tensions between pro social activities and anti social ones, such as gang memberships, - the social phenomena and what is appealing with the different groups are not very different, it is built upon the same foundations
