To former gang members, it's undignified.

Most go on to jobs where there's some sense of accomplishment, that a man could brag about, despite the pay being crappy. Outdoor work, mechanic, auto body etc. Or sales, where you can dress professionally. It's difficult to go onto the kind of job that people laugh at. They came out of a life where any slight on their reputation was cause for violence, or at least the threat of it. It's difficult for a gang member to just go work at McDonalds. They'd rather not work at all. Most are able to find jobs in some type of outdoor work or sales.