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By Aysha Malik
The extent of the problem
The pervasive focus on young men in public discourse, whether through the media or news coverage, creates a gender data gap that leaves young women and girls in gangs essentially invisible. My initial research confirmed that there is a lack of public awareness and government policies despite the research on young women and girls. From the perspectives of young boys within gangs it is clear how women are exploited and stereotyped within these gangs by members.1 In the year ending March 2024, around 2,000 girls received a caution or sentence, compared to about 11,400 boys, which highlights reasons why there is a greater focus and early intervention strategy for boys. However, young women and girls should not be ignored because of this.2 This failure has a direct, detrimental impact on vulnerable lives.
We cannot design proper, tailored interventions without first establishing the evidence base, the understanding, and the reasons needed to reach these young women and girls and help them before they become deeply entrenched in exploitation. Consequently, funding must be secured for early intervention measures which would build far more public awareness.
Throughout this piece, I will explore the role of young women and girls within gangs and present community perspectives from South Yorkshire on how funding and early interventions are crucial for supporting women and girls.
The role of women in gang culture
When we talk about gang culture, the conversation is overwhelmingly focused on males, due to the prevalence of their involvement. However, there is evidence to demonstrate the involvement of women and girls. These young women are essential to the gang structure, often playing a gendered subservient role in service of male gang members. The criminalisation of girls in gangs fails to recognise the extent of their exploitation and services to support them are practically nonexistent.3 However, their story is not one-dimensional. While many girls might initially become involved as the girlfriends of gang members, their position is rarely fixed, it is a complex journey where their roles can quickly develop far beyond that initial label.4 This potentially makes it more difficult to offer the right support.
Gangs capitalise on the fact women are relatively invisible; they use this to their advantage by advancing their economic interest in county lines and using women to avoid detection by police.5 Women often play a secondary or auxiliary role in gangs and are less likely to engage in violent offending. For example, they provide safe houses, act as alibis, and hold drugs, money, or weapons. This consistent assignment to less visible support roles, though highly functional for the gang, further reinforces the false perception that their involvement is minor or irrelevant.6
Control over female members is exerted through physical and sexual abuse, threats, coercive control, isolating them from family and friends, intimidation, humiliation, and economic abuse, such as debt bondage. Furthermore, this victimisation is heavily physical, sexual, and emotional in nature, such as the use of revenge porn.7
The recruitment of young women into gangs differs from that of their male counterparts. For instance, recruitment can occur simply through social media, with teenagers hosting 'parties' where sexual exploitation by gang members will occur.8 This method of infiltration means the experiences of young women and girls are often not properly understood, leading frontline practitioners to historically overlook the reality of gendered coercive control within gang structures.
Increased awareness amongst the public of the roles of women and girls within gang structures can strengthen calls for improved support mechanisms for exiting criminal activity. Building awareness begins at the heart of our communities.
Voices from the community
Mums United
Mums United is a Sheffield-based organisation focused on shielding the community's, vulnerable young people, women, and groups from the growing threats of youth violence and exploitation. They go beyond immediate support by hosting workshops, comprehensive programmes, and community events specifically designed to empower and positively steer the city's youth.
Local charities, like Mums United, provide a vital source of information for building awareness within their communities. Sahira Irshad, the Chair and Founder of Mums United, provides a vital perspective on the young women and girls who are on the brink of joining gangs, detailing their motivations, and sharing her perspectives on where funding and effective prevention strategies should be focused.
Perspectives on the recruitment of girls
Sahira suggests that the path into this exploitative lifestyle often begins with something simple: attraction to a materialistic façade. Young women and girls are drawn in by boys their own age, members of these gangs, who project an image of success. They appear well-dressed and financially secure, embodying a "provider" persona that promises a coveted, materialistic lifestyle. The girls may be more susceptible to this façade due to their previous experiences of economic deprivation.9
This initial attraction progresses through a subtle, yet deliberate, process of grooming. As Sahira says, “The boys use compliments and attention to entice the girls, making the manipulation feel organic and inconspicuous”. This is crucial, as the grooming does not typically involve older men, which is the type of exploitation most frequently reported in the media; it is peer-on-peer exploitation that rapidly progresses.10 Sahira’s perspective is echoed within research; for these young women, the appeal is deeply rooted in their circumstances. All they see initially are the materialistic rewards and the promise of escaping their reality. It is an exploitation of vulnerability.11 Many girls are filmed being sexually exploited or abused and this is then used as coercive control. Those who have debt bonds are then told to take intimate pictures to pay their debt off.12
Furthermore, Sahira suggests that social media significantly amplifies this pressure, impacting women's self-esteem and reinforcing the desire for a specific, seemingly accessible "high status" lifestyle. The entire process is designed to be highly effective and easily concealed. It is clear social media plays a huge role in gang recruitment.13
Early intervention strategies
Sahira suggested that “there needs to be more safe spaces created for girls.” We see so many youth groups and spaces which are heavily male dominated. These spaces have to be open, with no judgment”. Sahira mentioned she has been able to get some girls to engage with her group, she has witnessed how girls are vulnerable to joining these gangs. One-to-one support is crucial to enable vulnerable girls to regain control of their lives. Support should focus on discussing healthy relationships and encouraging value beyond materialism.
Sahira stressed that education is vital, specifically the need for targeted funding to teach these girls about abuse in all its forms. Too many young women are completely unaware that abuse includes coercive control and psychological manipulation. Providing clear education on this subject is essential; it is the foundation for “building strong, healthy relationships and values.” Sahira highlighted the educational classes at Mums United, notably the ‘Breaking the Cycle’ programme, in which girls learn more about coercive control and the different types of abuse, alongside the ‘Boyfriend Model’, which is to help these young women and girls recognise signs of abuse, manipulation, and understand safe relationships. This education must be delivered in an organic, open learning environment. They need support rebuilding their self-confidence, learning to value themselves without needing validation or attention from men.14 These necessary interventions to support these vulnerable young women and girls require funding.
Priority areas for funding
Drawing from Mums United's hands-on experience, Sahira provided a clear picture of what girls need, want, and what they currently lack compared to their male counterparts. Her insights emphasise the importance of using activities that genuinely interest them as a positive diversion. She suggested investing in diverse programming, including creative workshops, filming workshops, make-up sessions, and fashion shows, activities that many traditional youth groups overlook, but that actively appeal to young women. This approach mirrors the effective engagement tactics often used with young men.
Sahira advocated that funding should prioritise sports activities like boxing, ensuring these sessions are female-only to give them dedicated space. This provision creates a comfortable, safe environment where girls can build discipline and physical confidence without the presence or pressure of males, directly addressing the underlying need for control and self-worth often sought in gang life. Targeted funding for these specific areas is essential to offering meaningful alternatives, rebalancing the dominance of male focussed youth interventions.
Support, rehabilitation, and hope
Current support groups suffer from a notable gender bias, catering predominantly to males. We require investment in semi-gendered focus approaches alongside existing gender-neutral programmes, to adequately support young women and girls. Their involvement in violence is frequently linked to distress at home, with high rates of reported sexual abuse, addiction, assault, and familial unemployment. Consequently, family-based programmes are crucial for equipping these young women with knowledge of their choices and healthy coping mechanisms. Research suggests that focusing on girls’ peer and community environments may be beneficial to reducing both their criminality and gang membership. Programs encouraging youth to develop prosocial friendships and engage in normative peer activities could be paths to reduction. Furthermore, focusing on disorganised neighbourhoods may be able to decrease girls' gang involvement.15 This investment is financially prudent: preventing just one in ten young offenders from ending up in custody could save society over £100 million a year in the UK (subject to inflation). Moreover, the impact of girls' specific support work can be far-reaching, positively affecting the individual, her family, and the community of which she is often an integral part.16
There is a need for targeted interventions that specifically support young women and girls, who are either in local authority care or who carry personal histories of trauma and abuse. Many existing services are not commissioned or equipped to address the specialised needs of these young women and girls, leaving a significant gap in essential care.17 There is a need to change, do better and provide more dedicated support for young women and girls.
Rewriting the Future
Public perception must shift to recognise the hidden realities faced by young women and girls. Through more awareness the public can push the government to implement more policies focussed on young women and girls. A published report for 2025 shows some changes the government is planning to make, such as implementing specific funding for underrepresented groups like women.18 However, this alone is not enough. There must be investment in early intervention services. This means prioritising female-only support and educational programs, like those by Mums United, that tackle coercive control, build self-confidence, and foster prosocial peer environments. By focusing on the individual, her family, and her community simultaneously, this will help to heal trauma, be financially prudent and provide essential support to these young women.19
Further Reading
[1] Crime and Delinquency Volume 66, issue 88, ‘Deficit or Credit? A Comparative, Qualitative Study of Gender Agency and Female Gang Membership in Los Angeles and Glasgow’ (July 2020) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/0011128718794192> last accessed 28 November 2025 page 1090
[2] Manchester Centre for Youth Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University, ‘Keeping Girls and Young Women Safe’ (2022) <https://thecommissiononyounglives.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Keeping-Girls-And-Young-Women-Safe-MMU-and-COYL-report-.pdf> last accessed 12 November 2025 page 39
[3] Jessica Southgate, ‘Seeing differently: working with girls affected by gangs’ (2011) <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ec3ce97a1716758c54691b7/t/6755b27aed4f303b5d89663b/1733669499111/research_paper_2011_02_updated_may_2012_southgate.pdf> accessed 12 November 2025
[4] Clare Choak, ‘Young women on road: FEMININITIES, RACE AND GANGS IN LONDON’ (December 2018) <https://uel-repository.worktribe.com/output/482028/young-women-on-road-femininities-race-and-gangs-in-london> accessed 12 November 2025, page 220 of PDF
[5] Tirion Eliabeth Havard, James A Densley, Andrew Whittaker, Jane Wills, ‘Street gangs and coercive control: the gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines,’ (2021) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17488958211051513> accessed 1 December 2025, page 1
[6] Jessica Southgate, ‘Seeing differently: working with girls affected by gangs’ (2011) <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ec3ce97a1716758c54691b7/t/6755b27aed4f303b5d89663b/1733669499111/research_paper_2011_02_updated_may_2012_southgate.pdf> accessed 12 November 2025, page 12
[7] Tirion Eliabeth Havard, James A Densley, Andrew Whittaker, Jane Wills, ‘Street gangs and coercive control: the gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines,’ (2021) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17488958211051513>
[8] Tirion Eliabeth Havard, James A Densley, Andrew Whittaker, Jane Wills, ‘Street gangs and coercive control: the gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines,’ (2021) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17488958211051513>
[9] Clare Choak, ‘Young women on road: FEMININITIES, RACE AND GANGS IN LONDON’ (December 2018) <https://uel-repository.worktribe.com/output/482028/young-women-on-road-femininities-race-and-gangs-in-london> accessed 28 November 2025, page 178
[10] Tirion Eliabeth Havard, James A Densley, Andrew Whittaker, Jane Wills, ‘Street gangs and coercive control: the gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines,’ (2021) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17488958211051513>
[11] Tirion Eliabeth Havard, James A Densley, Andrew Whittaker, Jane Wills, ‘Street gangs and coercive control: the gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines,’ (2021) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17488958211051513>
[12] The Children's Society, 'Debt bondage in a criminal exploitation and county lines context’ (2022) <https://www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Debt-Bondage-in-a-Criminal-Exploitation-and-County-Lines-context-A-support-resource-for-professionals.pdf> accessed 28 November 2025, page 2 and 4
[13] Beatrice Casagrande, ‘Online Gang Recruitment's Tactics exploit youth’s vulnerabilities: A Systematic review’, (May 2025) <https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1967197/FULLTEXT02.pdf> last accessed 10 December 2025
[14] Jessica Southgate, ‘Seeing differently: working with girls affected by gangs’ (2011) <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ec3ce97a1716758c54691b7/t/6755b27aed4f303b5d89663b/1733669499111/research_paper_2011_02_updated_may_2012_southgate.pdf> accessed 12 November 2025
[15] Zenta E. Gomez Auyong, Sven Smith, Christopher J. Ferguso , ‘Girls in Gangs: Exploring Risk in a British Youth Context’ (13 December 2018) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/0011128718763130> page 1712 (discussion section)
[16] Jessica Southgate, ‘Seeing differently: working with girls affected by gangs’ (2011) <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ec3ce97a1716758c54691b7/t/6755b27aed4f303b5d89663b/1733669499111/research_paper_2011_02_updated_may_2012_southgate.pdf> accessed 12 November 2025, page 9
[17] Tirion Eliabeth Havard, James A Densley, Andrew Whittaker, Jane Wills, ‘Street gangs and coercive control: the gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines,’ (2021) <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17488958211051513> last accessed 8 December 2025
[18] Department for culture, media and support, ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ (Gov.uk, 10 December 2025) <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy> last accessed 10 December 2025
[19] NHS Digital, Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2024-25: External causes tables, 25 September 2025 cited in, ’Knife crime statistics: England and Wales’ Graham Allen and Helen Wong (House of Commons Library Research Briefing, 24 October 2025) <https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04304/SN04304.pdf> accessed 12 November 2025, page 28
