“Bejalai” and the study of Iban’s ethnic identity in Masai, Johor
List of Authors
  • Audrey Anak John , Chin Yee Mun , Sultana M. Alam

Keyword
  • ethnicity, identity, ethnic identity, Iban, bejalai

Abstract
  • Developing a social identity involves more than just acknowledging group membership. It encompasses a process wherein individuals perceive themselves as integral parts of a social group, fostering a collective sense of belonging. Social identification influences various social and psychological processes, including self-assessment and preferences for ingroup and outgroup members. The Iban people from Masai, Johor, who go on a "bejalai" journey to adapt to a new place while still adhering to their core identity encounter a significant challenge. Regardless of the distance, the Iban inevitably encounter obstacles in reshaping their identity in new territories. This paper aims to determine how the Iban people from their new location of Masai, Johor, reconstruct their sense of identity and how they view themselves at the destination. Negotiating social categorizations and understanding their place within the host society's framework becomes crucial for the Iban in answering questions like "Who am I" and "Who are we." The study adopted a qualitative research approach, and the collected data underwent analysis using NVIVO software. This study reveals that the Iban in Masai, Johor, establish their identity both at an individual and a group level, with elements like name, culture, language and birthplace are central to their identity but are seen as unique in the host society.

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