在臺緬華二代的異質族群認同展演：政治脈絡、教育背景與人群互動

Abstract

本研究探討在台灣的緬華二代的異質族群認同展演，研究發現，這些緬華二代在族群認同的展演上有著許多不同之處，然而，認同展演並非由緬甸華僑家庭的祖籍所主導，教育背景，特別是高等教育，對於緬華二代的族群認同及其展演方式有著更為重要的影響。即使成長過程中的文化接觸不同，擁有教育背景相似的緬華二代會展現出相似的認同策略 。

本研究的田野資料中顯示，取得高等教育的受訪者中，無論祖籍為何，皆較偏好展演出新二代、東南亞二代的多元面貌。同時，對身份中涉及「中國」、「祖籍」的部分則有著較為敏感的反應，傾向加以迴避，甚至發展出「替代性的認同」，來為其家庭背景中「華僑」的部分進行解套。未經過高等教育的受訪者，則較常選擇掩蓋與東南亞及緬甸相關的身份。

本研究發現，教育背景在族群認同的形成和展演中起到了更為決定性的作用。即便在同一國家內，不同環境對不同身份的影響效果有所差異。台灣社會中，並不是只有一種主流的看法，社會流動或者高等教育取得會影響人們進入不同的環境，周遭人們對族群身份的觀點也會因此有所差異。

本研究也指出，影響緬華二代認同展演策略的宏觀原因，在於針對東南亞身份的移工與階級聯想、地緣政治的敏感，以及新南向政策的推行。最後，本研究也指出現有的新二代政策，使得緬華二代在族群認同展演中需迎合特定政策想像，形成了另一種層面的限制。

This study explores the heterogeneous ethnic identity performances of the second-generation Burmese Chinese in Taiwan. The findings reveal significant variations in how these individuals perform their ethnic identities. However, these variations are not predominantly influenced by the ancestral origins of the Burmese Chinese families but are more significantly impacted by their educational background, particularly higher education. Even with differing cultural exposures during their upbringing, second-generation Burmese Chinese with similar educational backgrounds tend to exhibit similar identity strategies.

Field data from this research indicate that respondents with higher education, regardless of their ancestral origins, prefer to showcase a diverse identity as second-generation immigrants from Southeast Asia. Concurrently, they exhibit a heightened sensitivity to aspects of their identity related to "China" and "ancestral origins," tending to avoid these associations. Some even develop "alternative identities" to reconcile the Chinese elements of their familial background. Conversely, respondents without higher education are more likely to conceal identities related to Southeast Asia and Burma.

This study finds that educational background plays a decisive role in the formation and performance of ethnic identities. Even within the same country, different environments affect identity in varying ways. In Taiwanese society, there is not a singular mainstream perspective; social mobility or the attainment of higher education can lead individuals into different environments, thereby altering the surrounding views on ethnic identity.

Additionally, the study highlights macro-level factors influencing the identity performance strategies of the second-generation Burmese Chinese, including associations of Southeast Asian identity with migrant labor and class, geopolitical sensitivities, and the implementation of the New Southbound Policy. Finally, the study points out that current second-generation policies compel the second-generation Burmese Chinese to conform to specific policy imaginations, thereby creating another layer of constraints on their ethnic identity performances.