The study involved 1,313 separate gangs, however, he abruptly dismissed the girl gang members stating that participation in the gang culture for the young women was auxiliary in nature. In other words, their involvement was purely for social and sexual activities, which at that time may very well have been the case. Since then, many scholars have used Thrasher's findings as a basis for formulating additional research on girls and gangs. However more recent research, as well as statistics have shown that not only is female gang membership on the rise, but so is their involvement in gang-related criminal activities. Girls are no longer just appendages to male gangs, and there is some indication that girls are beginning to form their own gangs as well.
Many male gangs allow females to join their ranks, but others are exclusively female.
These all-female gangs formed in reaction to the sexism and gender in equality found in male dominated gangs. Frustrated by the absence of equal rights and dissatisfied with risking their lives without voice or influence, girls formed their own groups. Other research indicates that for a long time girls had little success gaining status in the gang world. This may still be partially true today, and may even be the reason for separate girl gangs. Like males, girls who join gangs are interested in laying claim to an area and in exerting power and control over this domain in order to achieve status, which is a necessary component of belonging to a gang.