Patterson exemplifies the concrete aspects of masculinity where males do not want to be perceived as “wearing a skirt”. Anything from negative stares to bumps in the hallway or verbal harassment can turn into physical altercations. On the one hand, not engaging can lead to future bullying, while fighting can prevent future incidents but results in legal or physical harm. Both options are not a fully proven survival plan. The same principles apply to back girls. Whether they are fighters or good girls, there are no real ways to avoid conflict in their environment. Often joining a gang can seem tempting, but again this also creates more enemies. For many young black men, confidence is an important component of their lives. When they have no figures to look up to or friends who won't betray them, their entire view of the world is distorted. Ultimately they believe they can only trust family, hence the motto “FOE”.