Gengsi

One of the things that sets Indonesians apart from Westerners is the concept of "gengsi". It was well explained in an article that appeared in The Jakarta Post this morning. Here is a quote from it:

Maintaining gengsi (pride, prestige and appearance) is of the utmost importance for many people in Indonesia. People, especially in the big cities, try to maintain their gengsi in order to keep in with their peers, and please the people around them. They are status and power oriented, with a strong need for external and social affirmation. Indonesian society is often described as collectivist, as compared to individualist. This is maintained in a close long-term commitment to the "group". The "group" could be a family, extended family or extended relationships. Acceptance from the whole group is extremely important.

It's hard to capture the full implications of the word with the translation "pride, prestige and appearance", although that's certainly a part of it. The phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" also conveys a sense of it. Indonesians who can afford it love to buy homes beside busy roads where more people are able to admire the house's facade. The more impressive the facade the better. What's inside doesn't matter nearly as much as the external appearance. Shade trees that impede the view of the house from the street are brutally lopped or cut down entirely, replaced by palms that are less obtrusive and cost a hell of a lot of money. As many cars as possible need to be stacked in the driveway of course. As an individualistic westerner I prefer an outwardly modest-looking home hidden behind trees and located in a quiet street.

As quoted, commitment to the group is also a strong part of gengsi. The family is the most important group followed by religious grouping, ethnicity and nationality. In a country as diverse as Indonesia, there are many ethnic groups. The Javanese are the most populous but other prominent groups include Sundanese, Betawi (native Jakartans) and Batak. Most of these ethnic groups have their own language and that strengthens the sense of belonging. Curiously, Indonesians must declare their religous affiliation and can only choose from amongst Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism. To a non-religious westerner with loose family ties, no strong sense of ethnic identity and only a vague sense of nationality, Indonesia can seem "foreign" at times but remembering the importance of gengsi helps make it more understandable.