Abstract
The fact that inter-ethnic marriage has been practiced in Malaysia since pre-colonial times is well known and recorded in its history. While there is a modest rise in number of people who choose to marry spouses from different ethnic group in the country, the practice itself has been generally portrayed as a problematic and wanting especially in the Peninsular Malaysia. Popular writings and mass media play a significant role in stereotyping the phenomenon as a current modern (read: western)-influenced trend in contemporary society, as well as its potential to create tensions between the spouses due to their differences in ethnic background and culture. Based on our qualitative study conducted in 2011 on 50 respondents with first-hand experience in inter-ethnic marriages, this paper argues that sources of conflict faced by the couples are not originated from spouses themselves. Instead, they were initiated by various external sources which stem from overwhelming dominance of authority-defined social reality in the organisation of social differences according to rigid ethnic lines in the society. As a result, positive effects of inter-ethnic marriages on maintaining social cohesion in the society, as reflected from first-hand experiences of spouses and progeny of inter-ethnic marriages, are affectively eclipsed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 269-278 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Asian Social Science |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Nov 2013 |
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Keywords
- Authority-defined social reality
- Inter-ethnic marriages
- Malaysia
- Qualitative study
- Social cohesion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Arts and Humanities(all)
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
Cite this
"Choose one!" : Challenges of inter-ethnic marriages in Malaysia. / Pue, Giok Hun; Sulaiman, Ahmad Nidzammuddin.
In: Asian Social Science, Vol. 9, No. 17, 29.11.2013, p. 269-278.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - "Choose one!"
T2 - Challenges of inter-ethnic marriages in Malaysia
AU - Pue, Giok Hun
AU - Sulaiman, Ahmad Nidzammuddin
PY - 2013/11/29
Y1 - 2013/11/29
N2 - The fact that inter-ethnic marriage has been practiced in Malaysia since pre-colonial times is well known and recorded in its history. While there is a modest rise in number of people who choose to marry spouses from different ethnic group in the country, the practice itself has been generally portrayed as a problematic and wanting especially in the Peninsular Malaysia. Popular writings and mass media play a significant role in stereotyping the phenomenon as a current modern (read: western)-influenced trend in contemporary society, as well as its potential to create tensions between the spouses due to their differences in ethnic background and culture. Based on our qualitative study conducted in 2011 on 50 respondents with first-hand experience in inter-ethnic marriages, this paper argues that sources of conflict faced by the couples are not originated from spouses themselves. Instead, they were initiated by various external sources which stem from overwhelming dominance of authority-defined social reality in the organisation of social differences according to rigid ethnic lines in the society. As a result, positive effects of inter-ethnic marriages on maintaining social cohesion in the society, as reflected from first-hand experiences of spouses and progeny of inter-ethnic marriages, are affectively eclipsed.
AB - The fact that inter-ethnic marriage has been practiced in Malaysia since pre-colonial times is well known and recorded in its history. While there is a modest rise in number of people who choose to marry spouses from different ethnic group in the country, the practice itself has been generally portrayed as a problematic and wanting especially in the Peninsular Malaysia. Popular writings and mass media play a significant role in stereotyping the phenomenon as a current modern (read: western)-influenced trend in contemporary society, as well as its potential to create tensions between the spouses due to their differences in ethnic background and culture. Based on our qualitative study conducted in 2011 on 50 respondents with first-hand experience in inter-ethnic marriages, this paper argues that sources of conflict faced by the couples are not originated from spouses themselves. Instead, they were initiated by various external sources which stem from overwhelming dominance of authority-defined social reality in the organisation of social differences according to rigid ethnic lines in the society. As a result, positive effects of inter-ethnic marriages on maintaining social cohesion in the society, as reflected from first-hand experiences of spouses and progeny of inter-ethnic marriages, are affectively eclipsed.
KW - Authority-defined social reality
KW - Inter-ethnic marriages
KW - Malaysia
KW - Qualitative study
KW - Social cohesion
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U2 - 10.5539/ass.v9n17p269
DO - 10.5539/ass.v9n17p269
M3 - Article
VL - 9
SP - 269
EP - 278
JO - Asian Social Science
JF - Asian Social Science
SN - 1911-2017
IS - 17
ER -