Khapil Narula
Epping Boys High School
High Distinction
The influence of stereotypical social identities on a male students’ “sense of belonging” to school.

In fact, due to tougher immigration laws only “skilled migrants” [ ] are allowed access into Australia- due to this the ethnic children who are new migrants to Australia (not international students) have parents who are high achievers.

This is known as another catalyst for the “ethno-success syndrome,” where an ethnic parent who is a high academic achiever “exerts undue pressure on the offspring to accomplish, and surpass, such goals” [40]. Integrating this aspect of the “ethno-success syndrome” with Maslow’s theory of “social belonging,” one would expect the students who fall under this category to respond as if they feel “socially satisfied” attending school but actually respond this way due entirely to their conditioning as being pressured to meet the expectations of their parents.

Being a student of an ethnic Malaysian/Indian origin (Group F) and having a skilled migrant as a parent, I would fall into the group explained above. However, through incorporating the methodology of personal reflection I am able to say that I feel the postulate described above is but a rough generalization. Perhaps I am speaking from a different perspective to other male students in this category as I have always been self-motivated to reach my goals and a little defiant as to my parents wishes. I feel that I am strongly “connected” to my own school because of the need to excel academically and gain a place in the tertiary study institution I am aiming for. And in line with my hypothesis, due to my strong “sense of belonging” I definitely feel “socially satisfied” in attending school.