Mishapen Identity

In Bastard out of Carolina, Bone's identity and sense of self are completely negatively shaped by how others see her. She is immediately categorized with the reputation of her uncles because of her dark hair. Kids in town tease her for having dark hair and eyes, claiming that she is part African-American. Bone is an outcast from birth when she's labeled "illegitamate." She associates herself more with her boy cousins and uncles than with the females in her family. She is labeled a liar and a theif due to her family's reputation; in turn becoming a liar and a theif. She has a low self-esteem and never quite fits in anywhere due to all the harrassment she endures about her dark features. Her own family even outcasts her, attributing her features to either the Cherokee in her (the strong, angry, and silent side); or to her "no good" father. All the negativity makes Bone develop a negative self image, one that allowes her to relate to the anger, violence, frustration, and lonliness inside herself more than the love.
By watching the females in her family, Bone doesn't learn much other than how to tolerate an alcoholic husband. She does learn a lot about life, bad experiences, coping, and hard work from her Aunt Reylene. Most of Bone's advice and learning comes from her Uncle Earl and cousins. She relates more to their strength and the respect through fear that they command. Bone learns to be tough, mean, and hardened by watching her uncles and cousins. She admires the power they hold through the fear they strike in others. Bone learns to deal with pain by inflicting it on others.
With little to no guidance from the women in her family and a group of men from the wrong side of the tracks being the only mentors, it's no wonder Bone gets trapped inside herself in a search for her identity. Bone is not only confused with who she is as a person, she is also surrounded with complete chaos and abuse that leaves her distant, cold, and introverted. When nothing outside your own mind makes sense and you cannot find anyone or anything in which to identify, inside yourself becomes the safest place to be.