The name is absent

415

In point of fact_tin this area the Aboriginal response was more
positive than that of non-Aborigines - 32.9 per cent of the latter,
compared with 23.6 per cent of Aborigines, agreed that they felt like
doing something bad to show that they existed; 48.8 per cent of
non-Aborigines disagreed with this statement, compared with 60.7
per cent of the Aboriginal population.

The Aboriginal students in the educational system did not show
a marked strain towards delinquency that one would expect, given the
statistics showing the overrepresentation of Aborigines as juvenile
delinquents.

24.24 Functional constancy

Functional constancy is defined as the feeling of occupying
a place of one’s own in the community.

1

As such, it is central to the definition of identity where
identity is seen as the perception of self-sameness by oneself and
others, and the location of oneself in a specific social structure.
The following statements relate to location in family structures
and to functional constancy.

24.24   (i) Location within a family structure

Statement

33. We have lots of family get-togethers that are fun.

41. I have lots of relations I can count on when I need help.

46. I often feel ashamed of my family.

34. Sometimes I wish I had different parents.

The lack of functional constancy is reflected in the feelings
of being a non-person.

See ρ. 36 above.

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