Most women give all their money to the man who paid the bills, supplied the booze and the drugs, buys what he thinks is necessary.
If a woman wants or needs something she has to ask for it. Women like the gangs in this paper are second class citizens, the motorcycle and brothers (club members)come first. Although rape occurred, not as often as in street gangs but it definitely occurred. Women were abused but were thought of as a necessary item. In the Aryan Brotherhood women were property the only ones raped were the outsiders who mouthed off or got to loose while partying.
In the prison system women were used to help a fellow brother get through his time more easily, either by writing letters, visiting, or through false documentation, marriage certificates were provided for conjugal visits. Some women legitimately married inmates. Women are used to smuggle in drugs either by under their tongue or parts of her personal cavities. These drugs are swapped through kissing and swallowed by the inmate who later sold the drugs at a profit or traded it for commodities.
This is how he survived in prison. Brothers on work furllows from prison smuggle money out to take care of the family?s. This was only done in some cases if there was an excess or her cut for the risk she took.
The reason women join is a sense of belonging. Culture is not an issue. Women of all walks of life join in these gangs from models to whores, from rich to poor. The thrill of living on the edge is the attraction. Women do not have a gang of their own; their gang is the fellow women who belong to other men. Age is a factor. Must be at least 18 but if you?re smart a fake I.D. is provided no questions asked, simply because you?re a commodity and thought to be able to make money. Keeping your mouth shut and knowing when to do so is a big plus. Talking about club business can get you beat or killed.
The danger involved with these gangs is the risk of infectious disease, either from their occupation, or groupies, these are women who love Harley-Davidsons and will do anything for a putt and a party. Getting busted for bringing in contraband to prisons or selling drugs is another danger and not wearing a property patch while in the presence of a rival gang can get you raped. A property patch is a leather vest with a patch that says property of whom ever your old man was. It was not uncommon for women to be sold or traded this is why being smart and staying in control is important. For a man keeping control of your woman or in some cases women (not uncommon to have more than one woman per household) is a big deal.
A woman has to know how to conduct business in a professional manner, know when to keep her mouth shut, and know how to use a gun if necessary.
This kind of woman is a valuable commodity, she was usually respected by her peers, and very much in demand, especially if she worked and took care of her home as well. It is important for your man to be proud it gave him an edge with power, like ?keeping your own house in order?. This kind of woman in the Aryan Brotherhood had power and control over some parts of her life and usually got what she wanted when she wanted it. But never with out a price of looking over her shoulder for herself and her man.
Death was not an uncommon thing. A minimum of at least two funerals a year or more if a war was going on. But prison is more common than death.
Warfare consisted of disrespecting a fellow brother of a different gang, they were always at war with anyone of color, especially black. Blacks were never allowed.
If a woman was ever known to date or have dated a black man she was usually raped and left along side a road somewhere in the middle of nowhere, totally shunned from all her friends. You did not have to agree with their policies but you were better off not vocalizing your opinion.
Conclusion:
For a woman to leave a gang is not as easy as just walking away. There are some gangs who will throw you out but usually not without harm not all escaped with their life or in one piece. The easiest way to get out was to leave state and hope they did not find you. But if they really wanted to find you they could it all depended on if your leaving was a threat to them.
For me to leave was not a threat, but two months after I left I got a phone call reminding me they knew where I was, it was not an intimidating phone call, they were only making a point. I left on good standing, actually they don?t like you to say you left it was more like retired, that was 15 years ago.
“A Personal Story” by Dawn McElwain
“Eight Ball Chicks” by Gini Sikes
“Social Problems” pgs.61-64 by Harold Widdison