"ONCE A CHINESE, ALWAYS A CHINESE" : EDUCATION AND ETHNIC IDENTITY AMONG THE CHINESE IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Being Chinese can be a problem. The concept of Chineseness itself is not defined in a similar way even by those who can themselves "Chinese". Chinese Singaporeans, though belonging to the same ethnic group can hardly be called homogeneous. In Singapore, as well as in this research, the Chinese are viewed in two ways, the Chinese educated Chinese and the English educated Chinese. These two groups have gone through two different educational systems which stressed different value orientations. Consequently, both groups have not only been imbued with different perceptions of their own ethnic identity but also of each other's ethnic identity. Ethnic markers are "symbolic elements" which define an ethnic group. In this regard, they are crucial determinants of ethnic identity. In this academic exercise, there are essentially three sets of ethnic markers. Core or non-negotiable ethnic markers are common to both groups. However, each of the two groups also regard certain other markers as crucial to the construction of their ethnic identity. There are also other peripheral markers that both groups consider to be negotiable. A central aim of this academic exercise is also to examine the differing perceptions towards the necessity of language acquisition for the maintenance of ethnic identity. This study seeks to understand the dynamic process of Chinese ethnic: identity using education as the main variable. Essentially, it seeks to understand the deceptively simple question, "What is Chinese?"