Narratives of Resistance and Survival: Lifelong Gang Involvement Among Marginalized Indian Men in Malaysia

Abstract

This study explores gangsterism as a form of social adaptation among marginalized Indian men in Malaysia, examining how long-term gang involvement shapes identity, survival, and community belonging. Using a qualitative narrative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with two high-ranking gang leaders to trace their trajectories of gang affiliation, identity formation, and survival strategies within structurally disenfranchised environments. While the small sample reflects the difficulty of accessing hidden populations, it offers rich, narrative-driven insights consistent with the study’s exploratory nature. Guided by Marginal Theory (Vigil) and Differential Association Theory (Sutherland), the findings reveal that gang involvement emerged as a rational response to intergenerational poverty, disrupted family structures, limited educational opportunities, and spatial marginalization. Gangs functioned not only as sources of income and protection but also as symbolic institutions that provided identity, belonging, and social order amid systemic exclusion. Ritual practices and internal hierarchies reinforced loyalty and cohesion, while social capital through informal governance sustained long-term participation. Disengagement, where it occurred, was mediated by personal transformation, marriage, or spiritual awakening, though often constrained by fear and social obligations. These findings reframe gangsterism not as simple deviance but as a survival strategy shaped by structural inequalities. The study contributes to a nuanced sociological understanding of gang culture and offers policy implications for culturally grounded reintegration and community-based interventions.