The perfume family: identity of a Pakistani-Singaporean family

Abstract

The Pakistani community in Singapore, a minority within a minority, remains understudied, despite their rich diversity in ethnicity, language, food, other cultural traditions, and contributions to Singapore’s history. This research thus aims to address this gap by exploring the experiences and identities of Pakistani-Singaporeans through the perspective of my maternal family’s history. Through a series of ethnographic oral interviews conducted with my relatives and other Pakistanis from three different generations, I document how their experiences as Pakistani-Singaporeans affect their sense of belonging and identity. In this thesis, I argue that the different generations have an ambivalent attitude towards being Pakistani. The older generation’s ambivalence is rooted in experiences of frequent migration between Pakistan and Singapore, poverty, racial, and class disparities, shaping their affinity and reservations towards their Pakistani heritage. Conversely, the younger generation’s connection to their Pakistani identity is influenced by limited cultural engagement, resulting in a more self-directed approach to their sense of identity. Ultimately, this thesis provides a better understanding of how migration, family dynamics, culture and identity intersect with the Pakistani-Singaporean community. It highlights the evolving nature of identity within this community and the broader implications for studying cultural identities in diaspora contexts.