20.72 (iii) Non-Aborigines stereotype ltaliansɪ
The question is posed as to whether the negative stereotyping of
Aborigines reflects a rejection of Aborigines in particular, or
whether this is merely part of a syndrome through which the ‘worlds’
of all strangers, those outside mainstream society, are nihilated.
Non-Aborigines were asked to stereotype Italians on the same-
items as Aborigines and to cite those items most characteristic of Italians.
TABLE 10
Non-Aborigines stereotype Italians N = 289
Rank
ordering
ɪ,tem stereotyped
∣⅛⅝ a— ∣ ∣ ■ mi II ⅝mm .......... II l∣ ⅛l
3.
4.
5.
6.
*
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
82.8
' 66.8
65.7
61.9
61.2
60.8
59.7
58.1
50.1
42.8
36.6
• don’t speak proper English
care for possessions
good parents
good providers
quick tempered ʌ
careful with money
know where they are going
motivated to get somewhere
clean and tidy
strong sense of right and wrong
untrustworthy
The following Table shows those attributes thought by non-Aborigines
to be most characteristic of Italians.
TABLE 11
Characteristics which best describe Italians - non-Aboriginal view
Rank Corresponding rating
Ordering Characteristic . on stereotype
1, don’t speak English properly 1
2. good parents 3
3, quick tempered 5
4. good providers 4
5. careful with money . 6
*None of the schools surveyed had a high proportion of Italian students.