Identity in Flux : The Case of Eurasians in Sarawak

Gryboski, Richard J. (2016) Identity in Flux : The Case of Eurasians in Sarawak. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

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Abstract

The primary objectives of this study were to explore how Eurasians in Sarawak identify ethnically and why they identify as they do. The conceptual framework was comprised of various ideas consistent with symbolic interactionism namely Brunsma and Rockquemore (2001, 2002), Rockquemore (1998, 2002) and Rockquemore and Brunsma's (2002, 2004, 2008) multidimensional model and Strauss and Corbin (1990, 1998) and Corbin and Strauss (2008) on structure and process. In addition, Jenkin's (1994, 2004, 2008) internalexternal dialectic and Blumer's (1969/1986) on self-indication were also used to help address multiple aspects of ethnic identification. Snowball and maximum variation sampling were used to locate informants. They were those who had one parent or grandparent that identified with a local ethnicity and one with a European ethnicity, or one parent that identified as Eurasian. A total of 45 informants, who were residents of Sarawak, contributed to this study. The method of data collection was face-to-face interviews based on an interview guide. Grounded theory methods, including the constant comparative method, axial coding, selective coding, the conditional/consequential matrix and the.oretical sampling, were used for this study. Through these methods categories were created and analyzed based largely on the data. A major finding of the study is that infonnants identify themselves in diverse ways. There could be pressures for individuals to identify in certain ways, however there was also some degree of agency in ethnic identification. While the presentation of identity often remains unchanged during interactions, fluidity was also evident in some situations. Identity-related issues relating to appearance, the Bumiputera and 'Others' categories and belonging/identity crises were also discussed. In light of the findings, this thesis proposed a new model on fluid identities and a more holistic interactionist approach to ethnic identity study which dealt with 11 constraint, agency, interactions both at and within the boundaries, and one which transcended the instrumentalist perspective.

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