What are some of the issues faced by the adolescents in The Outsiders?

The adolescents in both gangs are dealing with the way thy
are perceived by the rest of the world and their true identities. We are told that the
greasers are hoods who-

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 steal things and drive old souped-up cars and
hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a
while.

 And yet in the course
of the novel we learn that they are so much more than this. They are fiercely loyal and
protective of each other. Darry works so hard to give Ponyboy the opportunities to
succeed at school, which he was denied. Dallas Winston is lost without Johnny to protect
and nurture. Ponyboy strives to create his own identity. He wants to be popular like
Soda but respected like Darry and Dally. It is when he takes on his own personality and
his own initiative in saving the children from the fire that he finally becomes
‘somebody’: ironically the other gang members had seen his potential from the
start-

 Y'all
were heroes from the beginning.