The gang as a family. An intervention from Social Constructionism

Abstract

The aim of this article was to report the results of a social intervention initiative based on social constructionism (Gergen, 2007), involving members of the "Los Millonarios" gang of the Ojo de Agua neighbourhood in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. The experiences of three de facto leaders of the gang facilitated a redefinition of the gang-family construct. The intervention methodology was based on a sociocultural perspective, notable for previous research into practices and actions to develop a transformative diagnosis (Acevedo, 2017). The initiative hence focused on the resignification of the gang as a way of being and feeling part of a family. The conclusion was that this methodological approach offers innovative elements, placing the gang member at the limit of their reinterpretations regarding what they understand by family of origin and the family built within the gang itself. The intervention set foundations to resignify these social constructs, with a potential contribution to the development of inclusive public policies that contribute to processes of social reintegration and reduction of social suffering among these groups of people.