US AND THEM : SINGAPOREAN PERCEPTIONS OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR SOUTHEAST ASIAN NEIGHBOURS

Abstract

Identities are inherent in every social being. This thesis is thus interested in uncovering two such identities and to also decipher which of them has a greater saliency in the informant's life. In the title of this thesis, the term 'Us and them' is used. It is to highlight the differentiation in these two identities, to reveal that Singaporeans see them as two different ones. Our informants have shown that they see themselves as different from their Southeast Asian neighbours, thus, not really ascribing to the Southeast Asian identity, that should by right unite them all as one entity. This research has extracted such opinions from respondents and attempts to make sense of such differentiation in identities and the reason behind why one identity is subscribed to more than the other. What one will uncover in this thesis is how an individual develops a sense of self, either that of a Singaporean or Southeast Asian, through the use of Symbolic Interactionism. Thereafter, the notions of National Identity and Asian values are explored as they measure the Singaporean and Southeast Asian identities respectively. Controversies surrounding such values are also explored and used to explain why some informants find it difficult to identify with them, leading to the reluctance to subscribe to such identities.