All research concludes that males dominate youth gang membership, but estimates of the proportions of female representation vary widely. All research concludes that males dominate youth gang membership, but estimates of the proportions of female representation vary widely.
Some researchers contend that law enforcement agencies tend to minimize female gang membership.
This is a small increase from the 90 percent reported by 1996 survey respondents. Survey responses indicated that less than 2 percent of all gangs in the United States in 1998 were female dominated.