Gender Inequality in Singapore

Singapore, being a conservative country, isn’t always the most accepting. The traditional, patriarchal, Singaporean lifestyle has made it difficult for women to progress in society. Women were, and sometimes still are, expected to stay at home and take on household responsibilities such as cleaning, cooking, taking care of the sick, children and elderly. Very rarely are women in a state of higher power in businesses and companies and often don’t get as much recognition or pay as men. Depending on the field, gender gaps can exists from 10%-40% –  the higher level of authority, the higher the gap. (Straits Times, 2015)  It is also difficult for women to sustain a steady job due maternal duties. Employment for women usually drops around their 30s which is a popular time in a woman’s life for child-bearing meaning “employers may prefer to hire or promote a man rather than a woman since the latter will cost more.” (Lim, Straits Times, 2016)

Below is an infographic I made with statistics on gender inequality in Singapore:

However, Singapore has progressed and continues to. Around 1990, the previous prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, said “It is not possible to have a man continue to treat his marriage as if a wife’s role is the same as that in his mother’s generation… Wives cannot alone carry the burdens of managing the home and bringing up the children.”

As you can see, the mindsets and perspectives of people are gradually changing and becoming less misogynistic.

 

Bibliography for Infographic:

Williams, Ann. “No Improvement in Singapore’s Gender Pay Gap since 2006: Report.” The Straits Times, 17 Aug. 2017, www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/no-improvement-in-singapores-gender-pay-gap-since-2006-report.

Noun Project – Team – Christoph Robausch

Noun Project – Male and Female – Saeful Muslim

“Data Explorer.” Global Gender Gap Report 2017, reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2017/dataexplorer/. 

Migration. “Five Gender Gaps Singapore Women Still Face in 2015.” The Straits Times, 19 Jan. 2016, www.straitstimes.com/opinion/five-gender-gaps-singapore-women-still-face-in-2015.

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