Criminology Commons^™

Desistance And Identity Change Among Aboriginal Females, John D. Hundleby, Barbara M. Gfellner, Darrell Racine

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This study concerns the factors that are involved in a change from antisocial and criminal behavior to the development of a prosocial sense of identity in ten Aborigi- nal females. Data were obtained from recorded semi-structured interviews that in- cluded questionnaires and open-ended questions. These women had dysfunctional backgrounds and lifestyles yet ceased such behavior and entered university life. Findings indicated the resilience of these women. They overcame extreme disadvan- tages and “turned around” to develop purposeful and adaptive lives. Gaining a sense of their cultural background and integrating aspects of Aboriginal heritage into their sense of self were interwoven …