| Summary: | The increasing phenomenon of Malay pengkids has been seen as an alarming situation in Malaysia. Family is the immediate social influence on a child's identity. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore how the family dynamic constructed the identity of Malay pengkids in Malaysia. This study employed a phenomenology framework. The inclusion criteria were Malay females that self-identified as pengkid and were aged from 18 to 60 years. By purposive and snowball sampling, fifteen participants were virtually interviewed with a semistructured interview guide. The in-depth interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions were entered into Atlas.ti 8 software and were coded accordingly using inductive and deductive approaches. Results revealed three themes of family dynamics that inclined Malay pengkids’ identity, which were parental attitudes, perceptions of masculinity, and imprinting masculine character. Parental attitudes comprised bad-tempered and neglectful parents. Perceptions of masculinity described parents’ preference for a boy, masculinity as a protector, and that a man is a terrible person. Imprinting masculine characteristics include being brought up as a boy and imitating male family members. In conclusion, the dynamic in a family environment plays a vital role in constructing Malay pengkids’ identity.
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