410
24.22 (і)
(с) Discussion
Г
The notion of changing oneself, having a degree of control over
one’s self, was supported by 50 peτ, cent of the hon-Aboriginal sample and
P
50.1 per cent of the Aboriginal sample.
I
*
The notion of fighting for oneself Wassupported by 52.8 per
cent of the Aboriginal respondents and 61.8 per cent of non-Aboriginal
respondents.
The notion of survival, fighting for survival, fighting for
oneself,is found often in conversing with Aboriginal people, and
occurs frequently in their writings. Statement 52 found support
for this attitude and denied the stereotype of dependence on others.
The hypothesis advanced that Aborigines would show a lack of
autonomy was not supported.
The response to statements in these areas of autonomy for the
individual, the belief in the possibility of changing oneself, of
fighting for oneself, leads to a further questioning of the image
of Aborigines as passive. For this group, there is a belief held
by a large proportion, and indeed a proportion equal to that of non-
Aborigines, that it is possible to get on in the world by fighting
for oneself, and that it is possible to change.
24.22 (іi) Group autonomy
Linked to the idea of personal autonomy is that of group autonomy,
of the possibility of the group interacting with the world to change
it.
24.22 (ii)
(a) Ifypothesis
It was hypothesized that Aborigines would wish to form groups
•to get somewhere1 and that they would reject the notion of moving
away from kinship grouping, since this is held to be such a strong