Abstract
This book considers what ‘being Chinese’ means to Australian-born Chinese in terms of how ‘Chineseness’ is perceived, constructed and understood. Using a social constructivist theoretical framework, twenty-eight semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with multi-generation Australian-born Chinese living across three States or Territories in Australia. To understand how identity development occurred for second- and higher Australian-born Chinese, their ethnic identity construction was examined in terms of ‘being’ and ‘feeling’ Chinese in relation to two main signifiers of an ethnic group’s identity – that of phenotype and ethnic language. This research also examined ‘doing’ Chinese and the different ways in which Chineseness is manifested.
Three key findings emerged from this study. First, it is difficult to ignore phenotype in the construction of Chineseness. Not only did it have a pervasive influence on the way in which Australian-born Chinese saw themselves but it also informed the public perception of Chineseness. Second, ethnic language retention was perceived as an important ethnic identity marker for second-generation Australian-born Chinese but became less relevant for the third-generation and beyond. Importantly, ethnic language was used as a tool for communication and not necessarily a tool for the transmission of cultural values and traditions. Third, Chineseness is enacted in a variety of ways and this was influenced by generational status, social and historical context and family relationships. Changing environmental and social conditions in the Australian population mean that Chineseness like other ethnic identities is no longer fixed; rather it is in a constant state of change.
Three key findings emerged from this study. First, it is difficult to ignore phenotype in the construction of Chineseness. Not only did it have a pervasive influence on the way in which Australian-born Chinese saw themselves but it also informed the public perception of Chineseness. Second, ethnic language retention was perceived as an important ethnic identity marker for second-generation Australian-born Chinese but became less relevant for the third-generation and beyond. Importantly, ethnic language was used as a tool for communication and not necessarily a tool for the transmission of cultural values and traditions. Third, Chineseness is enacted in a variety of ways and this was influenced by generational status, social and historical context and family relationships. Changing environmental and social conditions in the Australian population mean that Chineseness like other ethnic identities is no longer fixed; rather it is in a constant state of change.
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | Cham Switzerland |
Publisher | Springer |
Number of pages | 153 |
Edition | 1st |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783031478628 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783031478611 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Publication series
Name | Migration, Minorities and Modernity |
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Publisher | Springer |
Volume | 7 |
ISSN (Print) | 2522-0713 |
ISSN (Electronic) | 2522-0721 |
Keywords
- Chinese Australian
- Identity
- belonging
- phenotype
- Ethnic language
- culture