%0 Journal Article
%T From ¡®HIT TAHUN¡¯ TO ¡®AL-ALA KIT¡¯: Identity Construction Among The Dawanese in Timor
%A Gabriel Faimau
%J The Interdisciplinary Journal of NTT Development Studies
%D 2009
%I 
%X This article is a preliminary attempt to examine the construction of identity among the Dawanese, in Timor,Indonesia. The identity construction here is conceptualised as an on-going process of meaning-making throughwhich individuals and groups define who they are and how they live their lives. This meaning-making processcharacterises also the life-journey of an individual or a people. This article suggests that the identity of Dawanese isconstructed based upon the local binary concept of Kase-Meto. Using such a concept, the Dawanese unavoidablydevelop a way of seeing oneself through the window of an imagined other. In order to reform or even change theway of identity construction that is very closely attached to the binary concept of Kase-Meto, I argue for radicalefforts to weaken the polarisation of Kase-Meto on one hand, and to make use of this concept as an opportunity forpositive developments, on the other hand, through the development of a more effective educational system.
%K identity
%K identity construction
%K Dawanese
%K Kase
%K Meto.
%U http://ntt-academia.org/nttstudies/Faimau-2009.pdf