BP Family & Gender

EDITWE HAVE HEARD lI Att Btt0Rt: FAMILIES ARt TllE BASI(

BUILDING BTO((S OT 5O(ITTY. FAMILITS ARE NURTURING AND

SUPPORTING BASIIONS Of I.OVT, (ART, DISTIPTINE IN A

DITf IIUI-I WORI"D. IHt BEST TAMII"ITS ARI TOUNDTD ON A

I-ONG tASIING MARRIAGT BITWTIN ONI MAN AND ONE WOMAN.

BUT DOES IHIS PICTURE MATCH OUR REATIIY?

Just look at the me(lia fren,.\ surrounding theprivate li\ts of some of the rvorld s mostpromineDt politiciaBs to,jet a glimpse inio thcshape ofthe moder-n fanriJy

France's ncwly elected president NicholasSarkoz.v has bcea married twice and hisblendcd family colsists of two sons from hisfirst marriage. trvo daughters from his rrife'sfirst marriage and orlc son from the existingm,rrr irg, . For m'r Fr, rr, 1r Drr' i,lcnl Flatrr or.Mitterand e\€n sired an illqjiiiDratc daltghter\ ,ith his lon8-time nristress

Thc L'nhe(l Srdt.. .t .\rr,e|rce h.r" rlro.' , n its

fair shaie of fanril\ nradness, Fornrer LlnitedStates l're-.ident Bill (liinton hatl -.c\ral affair-s

\'ith inlcrn trlonir 1.e$inskv and stateenrplorees Paula Jonts anri (itnnifer Florers{leipitr'tL,blicl\ cl.rrurir;: t,r ll,rt'Lis rih ancl

daughtlr d.arl. Ilr,It ih, uirtiti\)n:,'r\iiti\t'currL'Irl \ irr Pre:irlent lrir'k Chrnt i has hirtl

'e," t r ,,r' I' Ir"'trr'" I

in ordcr to accept hisdaujjhter's lcsbian partnera11d adopted child.

Even the pol iticall]' consen a t i\ e East has seeD

some uplr..rv3l\. I n zoo;1 rat, r :rrg ro, hanging

tinres, a Malaysian courl rulcd that Nluslimrncn i url,lditor.r llrcir \1r\" !i,r SMS usingtheir rnobile llhones - outraging women'sgroups and puzzling then prirnc ministerLlahathir bin Nlohamad \\4ro said later, I amnot so keen on (divorce b) SMS). but thev say

it is pefectl! ie8al, pertectl\'Islami.. I thinkthat ifpeople rvant to divorce lheir \.ife, thel'should resort to a much more personalapproach lhen thal-'

In iht face of these social trends shoitld \terefi)rrsider our triditional ideals al)out the:irnrlit\ ,)1 rr:rrrirgt anrl \lrji 'trrrir,!,1. torrririnlitin lh, inltlrit\ r)l lh, nr(ir'rt! iull1ih?

Dcrnan(l a }troadt'r Pcrspcerir t. l!

IHI BROADTR PERSPTfiIVIS ]EAM

Iiditor in Clrief slrirlr I in I( ikSubscr;ptions & ('ircul tiotr MuntrS,cr l.otr.rirre lhanr Salcs lI:rnaliet Yct'-li)r]L

C('rlrillutinti write'-s \iirtr hins l-;ng, Nldja trlrh l)d)orlh l ll:inr' \'rniiecrt lir'':riI

#I ABUSE

When farnilies go wild.

Domestic abuse is a rvell kept secret in socict\.especially within taciturn and 'face proud Asiancommunities where it r-emai'rs chronically underreported for victims as fanrily menrbers fear publicshaming. Abuse usually involves verbal bumiliation,physical battery or sexual assault- Compared to childabuse, spousal abuse is harder to plo\€ as it hinges oncontroversially different cult ral ideas about gendcrroles. Marital rape, forced economic depenrlencv andeven spousal murder have beenjustified before on thegrounds ofrelenge for infideliq'or a perceived slighton famih honour \\Ih\ parenis murder thcir childrenis far morc con4rles: rnen tt'nd to kill thcir childrcn'rlhen thel fecl t]!e\ hare lost control oiertheir fenrillor oLlt of revengf against r rvjMlo!\e\e r- \!ontengrnrrallr nrurJ.r tlrcil o11.rl)inS b.c!usr thrr p.rcri,r

j ..1 tr ,,.. ,,it'..r.:.,, ., r.,,,t,,..;.,,r :.rr ihr,hilclr.,n Jr,rnr:r Ir,' lrl.rl li1, -lir, 1:'rr.rr,i|l. r,laiir.lr leniunl 1,n l.urirli' l\ rt)r lrilori

rus sfrlr rn thl 1()r)i cirsr'rrhtrr':r SinlirI}or'run r:oLIple

ittcnlpted to pois(|n lhcir t\o daughters in Srdne\-lh(,rlrlrgcsagirinsttlrL riliscrtdisntisscdrrrrrrrr ndsof clinir.rl L1t'pr,.srr,'n r]:il, tb, hrr.h:rrrrl r':r.jai|:tl l!

#2 UtrWhy should a private addictionbe a public issue?

Read anl'arliclc about Lhc brcakdo\rrr ofthe modernfamil] and the spectre of some vice will ine\itably turnup - be it pornography, Blcohol, recreational drugs orgambling. When does a private addiction become a

prrblic problenr? A self supporting, self-protectitlglarnil] rnit willing aDd able to iook after iis ownmenlbcrs is sociebrs greatest boon.'l'hey cost taxpayers!ii-tuall]' nothing, io host them. Vice addictionundermines tlrt' family's cmotional stability and

cconomic self sufEcieno' Sonre vices like pornographland elcohol bave nlore intangible effects thel .<o$

(lislrust and Llnhappines-. bethcen sporrses $hiledrilng inttir itluals tlosl'r l.r scif'desir uci j!e. isolationisi

bch;liour Sorne riles like drugs and.qambling hare' ,, ,... r,;'rhl, i'...ii,iri.rr.,r. 11, nl Lr. rlr,r,ir.

' ,,ir r: hi{}r te\ doll.trs .rnd {ubitloii:r! I,art\ ol th.

.ti:1i. \ r.joLrrr!t tltiit c,rulLl hirr r' h, r'n llr::nnelecl into,,,lucrli,)n.rn(1 s(niirl rl,'rri"l'rrrn1 S,) into irn:rntilr-r.'hlrbiiitirtion ;nrl lr:r i nlorli'rttlnt l)r(rs.ranlnres ir)

(lrirl $ith inrrerscd cIinr,:. pr'rsortal barrlruptcies- Iost

r.orli tirrL' irnd lirlrri.rlhrr,l\hrps lirr.'rl l)\ rhriirnrili.sol rrrlrlitls Srri:h srxial ,-o:ts hrn, rt'lrhttl ,:pidenritpr()p()rlir)ns ilr Arncricir resl)L'rtircl\. c\cessi\(ranrbling and rlnrg ebust cost Arneric; rs li54 billion:rnd Sr ro billion arrouallr l!

#3 MATERIA1ISM #4 POLITICIANS

Who wants to be a millionaire? Do as I say, not as I do.

5 THINGS T0 I(NOW 5 rlrAys T0 Ktu A FAMtry

1'he dcve]oped .rvorld should have noth;ng ro complainabout in terms ofnaterial needs \\,c are awash withso much material abundance ihat even luxuIl,goodslikc Louis Vuitton bags and Jimm].clroo shoes arcbecoDring mainstr.eam clich6s. From Singapore loShaDghai to Milan, agljressive mateialisDt ha-s becomethc hallmark of every modern ciq. a pJacc whcrepeople want too muclr and work far too hard to get it,The fierce competition ofthe sink-or swim, globilisedmarket has undermined old-fashioned ideals aboutmarryinB .ar ll . havirrg childrcn or spen,lrnS lrm. willrla ntilJ . Marriage a nd rhrld r nrr bc, orrre in,.orrvpn innrspeedbumps to pronrising careers. and nrore peoplechuosp lo fofgo rlrnm cnmPleteh or ,teld\ thp,rlrndcl.nrl,,\ Thc DINK {Irouble In.!,nr. \; Ki,l,lphcnomerron i" ri.ine rrlrcp, ount". .t ". . ,,, r,nle Flronal sar rsfddt,,rr i., ,lr, I tr,! ou ttp , ar. r,a] tlrrn:,.- be ther o\'er coddled pet chihuahLtas or ilash\ sDorts'rr.. Tho."shoclr.,n, 1,, Iri\,,i rtd,,,,,,,,.,,',...thr:.challenge r:rf leeping up in a cutthr()at \orkphc.llith Irss burdcned tolieagues sirr\r\al at \!orkir d Ihf desire io upkcel) a collsuDl!rist nlrddle.lis\ljtest\le unfortunatell leads t()o ofl.n to iIe sacrjjl..,,',l ,irh lrnc sllh | ,n.iJ! t,,j r,o,, ,,r,

",,,., h,,,,, ;,th. (,lil.e (t

Politicall] sa\'\.v righr wing polilicians knorv how tolug at the heafi-strings of a conservativc YotinB public

just clrarnpion proJife and anti-iromosexualitr causesrnd lrli,nre rhe dn,.lirr. uI tr atlrtionirl lamilr valu., onlhe Ioll\ ol Irberalpolirirs. Howrr"r, rhc i*,.",,1,."1behaviour ofsome ofthe Riltlrt s loudcst leaders havedone much damage to the institutioo of familv thatlltP] clllirll lo t,rote.t. Tlte mrrr) cmbarrdssl|tg s(.rndalsthat have plagued high prolile consenatives hasuridennined the illtegdt) ofwhat they are advocating,creatinll c\nicisD] among their disillusioned supportersabout whcther oltl-fashioned family values ar.e ajoke.Nowherc is tlis morc obvjous than the Llnited Statesrvhere tlle Republic.D Part] have had their..Iamih.!dlle< politic.'l plarrurrrr r,erl ,.ne,l,g,ir- rrrd aga,nl\\ ,lr,; usn tjtn nrp.',L,r .. r ,,nr. r Sp,al.r oirlr,House

^-ew.t cingrich had mrliiple irffirirs during hjs

three mariages. clainriDs that {rralscr did not rotr]liii.rte-\-.\ ChanlpioD of the Christi:iir i 0aiitiL'r K.n (';rl\crrpublich rlcnrnrncrd Di'nrlrcrar Brll Cli ton s:ril;rir !\irh\lonica I-t\rinskr a.-. rrnhritirrble \(,1 11:)s :rrrestf(lior solicitiDg a prostitute an(l ritcrnptin! to ilee lhcsccne. lD zoo(), Republican congrcssr)an IIir I l:olrr', .j: rr,,1 . rr, , 11.."., r.,r, ,,r..r,,.,{ rl,..r 1,, t..,,, ...r;r;cxuallr t.rplieit rrlails aD(l irrstirnr rtrcssages to ulldclaged ('ongressil)nal p:rges. !t

04 8ROADIR PtRsp[[TlV[5 r/rcyornriu isjuc

I

i fcbul'6usfoct!I

! r'e'alt children! exist.I

#5 tH0ltEIt's a free world, baby.

while.Judeo Chdstian val es and Arian philosophies

still favour the eeds of socieO oler the needs oftheindir.idual, the post-Enlightcnrnent EuroPean idcaabout chalnpioning indiridual desires and needs over

society's needs has gained populality with jnany

edncated city-dt!ellers all over the rvorid. Freedom ofchoice or.er one's lifestyle and lhc glorification ofindependence has encouraged nrany ol us to disregard

traditional famill, ideals for more exciting, Iiberal ideals.

Divorce, adulteLl_', cohabitation, s\'!inging siDglehood

and homosexuality were radical concepts before theAmerican "free love" movement of the r96os and theSe\ual Revolution of thc r97os mainstrea ed such

altenlati|e lifesltlcs. The a\ailabilih of rew technologr- afiificial insenrinatioD, b;rlh control pills. scr change

operatjons ha!e llso ntade s ch alternati\e chojces

p,rssiblt'. \\'hilt' helrrosr-\trillit\. marriage andpa|rntho,xi ust,l t,r b. non nL'gotiable characlcristic-s,,1 :! nlrnr:rl plrrr,s:i,,n oiadrrlthood. n()\\ lht\ are

rrs,lrde(l aijust ,rnr: o1 In:rn\ (!trralh .crt'ptiible olnionsin lilr. I h.- nrrclerr farlill i-. bsing i rrrrtncr as mttr..

pr'()plc see il as rn irr('l{'\'ant and sinrplistic conteptthat is un:cllt'clire oln conll)li.rtcd realil\ Nhcre ga\

firl-nts e:rn b{'nroll com'Iitlfll lhan stratg,hl onts antl

llrnities can actrralI ln' nri)rr] \tirl)le post di\ orcc (t

| 'l rue. Ferai chiidren are human children

! rr ho lrr " r' rthor,r human,onlacl iroma\eni roung rg". Indpp,l. lhnre are manr'fictionrrl

1 heroes like Tarzan built around the idea ofI children being rcared bt wild animals. RemusI and Romulus, the foundets of Rome u'er?I sunuosedh brouelll uD b\ a grcdl

'he \'olr'! n."i lif"."r". otJ"..t

"t,ilar.-n t tit " rtt. l-in,

! .l"te.s of Auslriu) ar. rrrore l\Pi..rll\ lhe

I product of extraordinarily cruel child abuse

I rather than a product ol being romanticallyI marooned in the wikl. without enculturation,I feral children lackbasic social skills, maY not

! "r"n t",Ot. to ruall upright anrl harn srcrt

i rroubl. a,loprinB lhp human lrrne,uag, (!t

i urbonlegend?tI You can only have one child in! china by law.Ii .A False, China's Planned Birth| !@ policy - also knowD bywestemeNI

-

as the One Child Policy - does not

! !I\ forbitl its pcople frorn having!

-.

more than one child. Horvever,Ii =e

n".'t"g one child ;. 2 hsxvill-

I promoteci icleal r.lrich is strongil enforcedI 3mong ihe Han Chinese t'ho ii\.e in urbanI rrees- Rur:rl f;rnilies can hale trro childrenI if lh., irst rhild is lemile or disabiecl i'hile| . 'l',,,. lrrr. tsr, rr ltl' r i|!i 'rrl',, '.,r-,..', utI r",'r,hil,l .r'rrr rrr"rl

; areas. 1he po1icl rarir's in its enlbr(lrnlentI across difli'rtnt prorinet's. Generalh. itt .-,'"rr Ii.,-r' , ,,r ,.J ,.ur rt., ,rri,r:u r le' f, l

I .,,,,r,t., lr,rr ' rr,,r. LLarr tll rr lllo. t' J

! ,1,"i" "l .lril'l "rr l<,, ' ,,rl\.,1,,P ln \, ,rs !,1

! b"illel,"lu" r, l,le.Fnr.nr li.rlrlrl\.d,P l'l.rnllcd

a Bifih poliq htrs been changed. (!

WHY PATRIAR(HY AND

IONSERVATIVE VALUES WILL

SURVIVE THE 2IST IENTURY

by SH|A0-Y|N KUIK

rr-

06 EROADtR PtRSPftllvt5 rtu lnnii11 iss*'

A(IORDING TO THE WASH'NGTON PO$ WTIEN LITTLE YUNA

WAKAMATSU WAS BORN INTO THE SMALL JAPANESE IOWN OF NISHIKI IN

2005, SHE WAS TREAITD LIKE A IELIBRITY. MALE AND FEMALE TOWNSFOLI(

TURNED UB SH0WERING (0P|0US GIFTS 0F F00D AND MONEY 0N A RFLATIVE

STRANGTR. IN A TOMMUNITY WHERT NO IHILD HAD BEEN BORN FOR A

DEIADE, WHERT PEDIAIRI( TLINIIS AND ELTMENTARY S(HOOL5 HAVE BTEN

FORCTD IO ILOSE FROM LA(l( OF BUSINESS, BTING ABI.E TO SEE IHE

h would seem like Joponese

women were hoving their

sweelesl revenge. After oll,

wilhoul heirs, wouldn'l lhe

mole rhauvinisls of Jopon

nolurolly die oul, loking

with them lheir whole

polernolislic syslem?

FACE O] A NEW.BORN BABY WAS A GREAI NOVEIIY.t

ishiki's disturbinglt lorvbirthraie and senior dtizelrboonr hacl aIeadl' doomedits very existcnce. B-!-' 2()()6,

r{ith Nishiki s aseinscor]lmunit! Llnable to

sustain itsell, it merged iliih a

reighbouring cit! and ceased toc\ist as an independcDt torl'n

Nishiki's plighl is sjnril:rr to man)other Japanesc to$'ns and is an

oninors synbol of Japln's orvn

futurc.'fhe rvor-kl's second largcsteconorny might not be ablc tomaintain ;ts position in the co irrg,

decades i{ its rvorkjng populatioDcontinues to shrink Nation\{ide,the signs are alarming: hospitalsare cutting do$.n ihcir numbers olgrnaecologists, :.ooo schools har e

l;rcn forced to closc. lld 63-oooIr:rchers ha\e lr-'st thtir lobs..\nahst.\ t-.1inr:it(' thitt -la|:rrr rp.p!lirtion ,rf r rs r illiotr r iJl tlt op

r0 t::o rrjllio I'r ror., ::n,l t,,lnrillron br tolrt

,Jlpiin s babl shorlitgt' rn\r\ rs

rrnclerpinnecl br :r nrrrior glrbal 'hiiiir,..rltrral nttitrl(1,. r,rrr.rrnirr!gtnrlcr |r.rlts l hL' slorl is 1\ I)iurl i)trlani olhel drr r:loprrl nrl ions ilrr(l

till atreadr,he fanriliar to mant ofrrs. 1,r'orr ihe nid zoth Cenru.y,wiih increasing financialindcpcIldence aId r:rlucation, morervomcn rr'cre aroiding rlarriage and

ctriklbirth. ln Japan. 7 oot of 1o

single xonrcn dec)ared thcr'had no(l{rsirc lo bcconle t\,iYcs. -\pparentll,the gror\'ing attmction o1 singlehoocl

to JapaDcsc tr'omen \!irs plimarilla respons{: to ihe olerly p:rlriarchialattitudes ot,lapan's l]len.

Sickenecl b] ouidated so(rietalindsets thai condcmned wives lo

srrbscr'r'ience and lorcecl to clockoverl;nlc to overcornc rrmpantprej udi ce \r,ithin thcir maledorninated workplaces, voung.Japinese wonlen Nere planninglhcir li\es around lht' i(lea ihal ih.l$ould 1)erer uranl

(ln iir:l glan(.. it s,,ulL] sc. ur thrtIrtLtri;rrh\ las b, in3, iiler':r11riI.Ight lo r\tin( tti)n. l-\.n;:Ir,,\, rlLri rrrn oi l;rt,,rn ri.rntlr''ifir,rr('i!l in({'nti\f i L)h:rr,,trildrtni;Iri ,r r'glr n izcd spcerl ,l:riirr;r\enl\..lal)lrn s \\i)riran \1r'rf Ilr)L

.ll,r,' irrs anr signifirirlt inter,'\1in rrrollrcr lrorxl

.shi(l,) vii rr.,,rrls tr,5ia sh( has,r)t tluk'h.t nitrtl rtu scn) tol I'r1xi1.irq l/rc ,rraqt.dl 2. 09 .hikhvt pcru.o" nt

FEATURT ART](LE wHo's YouR DADDY?

As long os socielies hove reorhed o pointwhere lhey ore rosmopolilon, relolivelyfree from wor, fed well on luxuries ondbrimming with new philosophies,reproduclion will seem less of o neressilyond more of o bother.

However, the surpnsing fact is that failing ft rtilit\ rates

anddisenchanted women are not m()dcrn l)Iol)l!rDrs at

all but a recurrinS thcnlt in hunlan hislor-\.

Alnrost 2O3o years ago, as aDcient l{onrc sank into :rperiod ofcomfo.t, its aristocratjc men had bccamc socnalnoured with tltejovs ofltedonjstic singlchood andRome's womeD had grorm so disenchanted rtitL ihenotion of having babies rvith such mcn that ErDDei.oraacsrr.\ BUrlt'\\r.,.lurcr,l rori,{, 1..r, lr,,ur t,r\p. r,,punish tho-\c \!ho pcrsisted in ticing unucci or,:hildli,ss(in.identall\, this is olre of our-carliest e,:::rIIks oi pror)ataii-.t policies in a.tiol1_) In Lbe I'N iod:n thr tnu:r,orrrr,r,,nl.,r,,,i t,, |, i tr,.,t l,\ .,,:. ....,,t. :

Uritish cit:2. s \rl1 lt.rihef ,rniiirie,..r i.hrlrllt:s. Ill[rrt l(n irln]nst rll thl' d.\.!r);]rd \, jrl,t lirlliIl! i,,rliiir\'ri.,r't .' .,'.'r,,,. ,,1,1 ,

gtrturh in r,ealth lnrlcLrltLrre l\J(r(iIrrr (|r\ Sirr3Lrport,.llong liong South Iirrrlrr rrn,1.lrp;rrr rnrn l11 sr,:rlrhit,rrrnd ror-c cosIIIrI1rr)IiI.!'r th; r th( ir 1,lhrr ,\sjlrll]righl)oL ! but ther IisL, r'irnk i|rr,)llg the \{)rkl s 2oIeast fcr I ilr' ali() s.

ll does seem lhul ot fhe turning point of0ny s0riely's e(0n0mi( ond rulturoldevelopmenl, lhe only men ond womenwho will persist in hoving bobies ore fiosebelieve in volues ond norms lhul resemhle

pOlfiOfthy k.s. bcliefs thar marriage and.hildrenare sar:red gilis. thai men are the traditional head olthe horrsehold)- Such peoplc are typicall,\. follo\^,erc oi'pairiardlial, monotheist faiths like Juclaisnt- chrisn;]nilvt'rl l'l.rn ", p".1,1, lror,r mrrle<Jlrrlrit,.d. ulrur. tharrc\.ere tltei. ancestol.s and the honour ofthe familv likellF Mp\icjrr.in,l Illlljr\. Ri-liqior rrrd rruditio;fr\"lhenr a strong inrpeiris to procreatc and disdain birthconirol ()l al)oftion. In Sjngrpore and France. it js thcminoritv trluslims and Catholics ra4ro maintain ihehighest icfiilitv rates despite a gencr.l nationr\.idedt:clinc in birilrs

thi. r'rplains the c:ses of Israel and tht t.rnitr,(l Slatesthe onl\ l\o drrelopcrl \\orl(l eco onrie\ lh:rt hi\r,

beatcn tlri: ori(l( lr) iirr rl.r:llr ,, ihe nrir,:i(.irl I rx) tr,r t illtl!rt, Jhirnl. t, ,, .,,, r,.r! 5i:.r!i ,,l] r, li!.:,,,r .,,t,t ,,,r,rlLrullr lr)r1r, rr.,rr..,,ti,,n i1r Irc!nirr l!.r,irrr,,n. I.,.,,.1hrslhL,hrrir,.t i'.rlr rt\ j;rii jrjlh.!l,rrt,,l\ L., rl,lrt;tIr cnirrbl, :: qr rhiLir.r t)L,r!\,)rilIr

08 BROADtR PtRSP[IIIVIS r/rc.lirrrrilu rssuc

Israr:l s ,Jer'ish trrrrtnrLrnitl llas 'l.t children l)e. \\onlan-the t'ltra-( )rth(xlo\ .teNi\lr conrmunitt hasUchild.cnper \ronriLil and arah Isreclis hare 1 : child|en pcr

Similorly in lhe Sloles, while the liberol

Northern sliles of {',lew York ond

Woshinglon hove hirth roles iusl 0s low 0s

ony liberol Europeon slole, lhe highly

prolifir ond predominonlly (0nservolive

Southerners more lhon tompensole for

their unproduclive p0gf5. rn .rme.ic i\, 17.4% t)ttheir babr boonrer nomen chosc to have one child onl)and rr chose to bave four (ih;ldrcn or nlore. 'lhcchildreD ()f the fomlcr €lroup mirkc Ltp onll 7.8% olthcnext geneDtion whilc the childrfil of the Iatter made

up an astonishing 25%. This meaDs that thc proljficCetholic Hispanic immigrants, thc Mormons of Utah

and ldaho, and thelargely Protestani Biblc Belt oftheSouth stand to inhe l Anerica b) \'irtuc ofbirth.atealone-

0f tourse, (0unlertuhure will olwoys exisl

in sotiely: !t,rJlr'ril),.ri,i\ \!,li ,,1 !,.,.t l,;,r, ,rn, ririrri.oth{i s clxn)sr lo

')(\'orir(' lrirrlx r s ()r t I it.r\ in , l)i(l l,)

li!,h1 tht lidc ot corscr \ irl isrn. :r1r(l thcrL' \\'ill ahral s lxclrilLlrcD o{c(rnscl-\irli\es nJrr) r(rl)cl und Irjrct lh.ir

However, 0s long 0s lhe setulurisls do nol

repr0du(e 0s mdrh'ns-lhe (0nservolive 0nd

religi0us, lhe former's onli-polriorthiol

volue syslems ond ideols will simply be

underrepresenled in terms of sheer

nUmbers. lJ,'^",.,,.,r.. ir' l,\,.,,^r :b,,..,hr. r'.rr 'r r:. l,cl r' nranr 1,,1'rrlrr'. ntsn colr'tsr\Jli\Ppoliticians like UK s Toq-partl leader Da\,id Carneron

are embracing it as a long ternl solution to socialproblems and making it morc palatable to the people.

ln thc Staies, patriarchial religions have Iesurgcd inpopularity amongst the )oul)g, thanks to a nelv

generation of fiercely traditional yet culturall-'- tunedin religious leaders like Paslor Mark Dr;q.oll of l\'Irrs

Ilill Church and political aciirist JiI1r Wallis-

whai does this mean for Japan? Its total populalion!t,ill drop th aslically as long as Japan rcnrains rigidabout allowjng irlurli€iration and as long as its liberatedy)lrngrvonren rclusc to be the "birlh-giving nachines"Litbor N'linister Hakuo Yanagisawa longs fi)r. tsut thele\,!ill be trlditiorrellr nrinded Japanese \\'omen likel'rincess Krko. as w,ell as minoritl" g.oups of Catholicor Christian wonlcn, rvlro nill rcProduce irregardlcssof incenti\.es or disincentives- l'he rising cost ofeducation and lhe lack of chilclcare centres will not

discourage the rloman l'ho perceivcs chiJdrerr as a gift

fronr God or the $,ornan who thinks marriage and

linrndchildlen are thebest gifushecin offer her parents.

Slowly bul surely, lhrough o Dorwinion

survivol 0{ the iittest, polriorthiol volues

- 0s represenled by o new gener0li0n

dominoled by conservolives - will mosl

probobly persisl, evolve 0nd inheril so(ieiy

by defoult. 'r

VALIn the r99os. before lhe .Lsiirn llnancial clisis hit, -Asiln Vulurs" irtcanre a coirlenit ntreason gir cn for $-hr ihe rlsian f igct. econoDrics rverc rising srl specl:rcularh r|hilede\-eloping countries in Latin r\'rcrica ir'tl F.ur,1r. *,crc flr.rrder.ing. .-,\sian Valut.s..became:r contro'ersial -s\1ro.r'n) 1bi filial piet1.. respect lirr-sclr.lar.slriir. har.tl rrot.kand thliftiness inspir-ing heated debate evcn till tocla\.. by NAD.IA MAH

l0 ER0ADtR PIRSPIITIVES tir'ftrrnii,] rlsu(l

"The collo nse

of Asio n '

fof ily.vulues rs o

n

II

RUbbiSh. 'l'he onslaught of Hollp,ood movies,sleaz-v MTV videos and the great Ame can adverlisingmachine havt: iong beeD Asia-s favourite scapegoats lorthe increasjng acceptance of pronriscuitv. devaluaii,---I!

ol r arriaEie- embrace of in{liri(llralism and gencr:iidisrespcct ior paren ial :l uth.rf tl Asian crjtics of\{e-stenrculture lo.e lo arsue thi]t as \\'estern cultural 3o,-,d.aielessi.eiy prt'rrr,rre liiesi. lt: oi,:\rcssi\e Inati ri;tli: r.

self-centrt-dnts. antl srll iir(lrrlr,'rr.r. \rans los, l1,Lr.ll

!\ith thrir orn cLrlluIr's;rrrrl b,gin to 1()s. Ihrrlronst'rvati!e nroral br:aIings -\sian bcha!i,)lIr isdcllnitcl\ atie( trrl l)\ \rhrt,\ri;tn\ \rtrh and listen loIIr)\\,\rr. ,\sirn\ urt still c,lLrrrlli if ri)l nroslllint.r{rslt\l in.!.iirrr cLlltrrr.rl grrrtls ratlrcr ihl \\'eslrIones. S()nlr'ol llrr nr()st p(|l)trhr lx)p culturt icolls irrSingaporc arc n()t \{{'slcrrrcrs Singaporean Stef.rni(l

Sun, l aiwanese Jay Chou and South Korean Bae Yong

Joon have far more nation$'ide appeal than Erninem.

Carrie Bradshaw and \ladonne becausc nostS: BJt,ore-1ll\ F lreirrtl. rd.r. ritl! ' r han.orIl '.pol,lirrrglobal ciiizens. Ilore inlporialrtl), it is silll to as-rurne

th.rl t.,,1'l.,.r,.,.||r, rrr'"1r,' li1, ur"lr,, rnitrt.I'ot,',\fhrl h ( lcrrn fronr \1 c(ttrn rrrt (lil i< filt.reti thri)rrgh

rirtt unique ralue srstrrrr\- rnin(lscl!. erptrienie' rrnd

llrrnr)ries. -\i1er \illi hir: l!rt lr')\,-\rirti\!.\rnL'riritn'rnes -\r\ rnd th| (ilr . r,rr. .\.i]Ir rltight be conrrncc'lthirt r\tra- ririlllirilirirs rrrr r.\\ $hilc iinolhrr Asilirr

nright fcel e\en lrlorc indignxnl at the r'rcessirrbtharirrrrr riisplared and end rrp rven rnor. sloicill\c,)n\r.retire an(l (lcl.n.i\r,rf -lsjiril Iinlill r:rlues

thaD r'\cr JD gcrcral. tht' (letl;nr of \irlLr( \\stcmsis sinrpll too c()rlrple\ to bc blanrctl sirrlpl\ oD thrlrcilia ll

resu h

of Wester

medi0

inf luence

0N zND TH0UGHT RETHTNK AsrAN tlAtuEs

whileWeslerners

FalSe. --tlr]one \\ho has \allied past the re{l liBhtdistricts oi I'atp.rig iri llthll:rnrlor Gellang in Si giLrore

can tell ]ou ihat -\sians seiil.iust as pelficth capableas Westerners of liberal se\ual aititudes. Pornogr-aphraddiction. premarital se\, e\traDrarital affair-s andIromoserrralitr are pre\ alent iisuei in \sia as Duch as

i. Lurope or -{rnerica In fact- the Japnnese are one ofthe r.-orld s leading producers oI softcore childpornograph\ and their curiousll blasd attitude to sc\ualderianq esplains the incredible \ arietl of pomographicrnanga available o{f the shelf as lvell as thc casualacceptance ofJapanese men's obsession with skimpilytiressed Sailor 1\loor type schoolgirls. The websitelntemet Filter Review claims that the world's top rospenders on internet porn include Western nati,ens(Canada, Britain, USA, Czechoslovakia, Brazil Australia,Finland) as well as Asian nations (Taiwan,.)apan andSouth Korea) with the South Koreans taking the topspot, consuming 2796 ol Ihe world's internet porn,Singaporeans lvho still cling on to the misguided beliefthat they arc more consenative than the West only need

to recalltlre 2()()6 'Tamlny'intemet pheDonenon lr'herea \ideo recording of a 17 year old local pollteclrnicstudent's sex lcts with hcr bofriend \.as stolen ftomher nrobile phone and rabidl)'cilculated online andoffline bl Singaporeans themselves,Il

Depends on how you definefilial piety. oue of the most cherished crnfucianvalues, filial pietl and respect for elders, is not uniqueto Asia as many of our mothers would like to believe-Essentially, filial piet-l is defined as the responsibilityofeach child to respect, obe] and care fol their parents

as lhey age.'fhis valueis identicatto lhe Judeo-Chdslianlalue of "llonour tllv father and mother_- ltalian .nen

are notoriors for their almost obsessive devotion to

their mothers- HoNt'rcr. r'hilc l-last:nd \\ic-.t sharesimilar lore tbr parelrts. lhel mer not share lhc s:rm.'

iders about hot to shol such lore. l_he nr(rrltraditionall\ rninded Chincsc rvould ciassifY anccstorrror.lrrp:,r p:,ri ul lrl,irl r,r.t\ r lrnr. r .orrr, one , ,rrrritrg

iiom an! Western sociell foundctl on .)udco Chri-'tianralurs louicl rrguc that orlr'(.rrrld br l)e ccth lo\ilriland rcspecliul lo {)rc s Dirrrtts withoul cl-ossin!, the

line and praving to thclr for guidance. l!

"Asions ore

sexuolly(0nservolive

0re sexu0llvliberol."

r

believe infiliol piety

res0ecl

for'oulhorily."

"Unlike

Weslerners,

Asions

0nd

12 BROADIR PIRSPIOIl/IS llrc lontiltl issttc

"Asions succeed

becouse thev excel

in lheir studies

0re

hordworking."

on howe success.

Asian schools arc justifi ably farnousfor bcing ablc to consistently mass-produce students with an excellentbasic education wilh stronggl'ourrding in language, mathematicsand science Throu:jhout NorthAmerica and Europe, educationists,parcnts and politicians are rightfllly

orried lhat the aYerageharcls.orking- t'elJ clisciplined Asianstudeut \rill lea\e the rveragcreial!','elv rel:rxed Wesieln student indrc dds! tsritairr ard \onh .{nedcl.:sr^.i;.riil iq.1r ih:ri ih$ rri liiling toDr(xiu.e suiirirnl !.rJ(lLrrtrs in thesciener. Ind tnilinrrrir!.. l hrrr i:iurrelsirle l)rrssurr lo shili tlrt Inoltlle\ible \\'L'strr Jr si\1. cducationl(N\;r{l\ r rrx)r, rrirrn rlrr.eliolr i lhicrhith nrlrrs,s,rn intlrslri rnrlsl;rndi(lizc(l iesting

H o!ve\'er, prominent Asiarpoliticians and cducationists are welar\'are that the Asian values oindushy and unquestioning deYotiorto authorit! ar--e not conducive fotproducing the le\.els of creativityinnovation and entrepreneurshilWestern societies are capable ofSingapo.e's industrial mavericks liktSim \A/ong Hoo are seen as aOpicaoffspring of regimented Asiareducation st-stems rather than th(nornl. lvhat might be rlo.rling i:that while {sia s dogged derotion t(sinrple hard rvork is seeing nrtrclsuccess in tlre sh,rrt ntn its l,)nS rlrr

.rrrr',.s nrighr d.pcnd hr:r\il\ on illrriilurgns: t, r lx'come lleriblt tn,Irqlto iril,'\r the bu(ldinS Ri(hi,r,llun\,,rs ;Jnd llirlsleins (11 \sil lr

ronre irrto rhcir oln. l!

nd

BATI( TO BASIIS:

III|RITI NG

INTRODUTTI O

by T0NG YttTo Yee, the uorse kind oJnrtroductions are the kitd aoul1arc to do at co.ktail partiesIull of sfiljnsers. He teuches atth? S&oolofThousht.

-_

TSSAY MAKEOVER wnmrue rNTRoDUoror'rs

t6 BR0ADtRPtRSPFOIVtS the.fantity issue

But in prortirol terms, how con we fit all these ttquirements inlo

the introduclory porogroph? Lel's take o posi yeor queslion os o

somple to show how this done.

Is the idea of havingone partner for lifestill a realistic one?

The oenerol

underlying trend

Possible moinpornls suggesling

whv havino one

oortrier for lile Lno longet reolislir

-lhe u'orld has vastll changed and in many societies attitudes ofhaving onc

paftner for life rlal uo longer be necessary, desirable or even possible.

New tl.ends of increzrsed life expectancy, the reduced econornic function of

mardagc and ernerging liberal attitudcs towards sex and cohabitation, to

nane just a few, seem to suggcst that malriage is an unrcalistic notion.

Dcspite these changes in the hrorld. most rcligious institutions continue to

insist upon the impr)rtance of monogamy and marriage believing these values

to still be relevant and realistic. Their stand, thongh traditional, is one that

is still held by nany. Yet there is growing support for the modern,

inc'liridualistic rtrbaD \ie\\,that argrres that polit;cal and econonric changes

in the rlorl<l iril\ e made the idea o{ a life)ong padnel ideali,ctic. archaic or

.Lrrrph rrrrp,,"rl,le.ll\r, 'huu l,l rr' ,t lt blintled lil- this tnodcrn riel or prtssttrul

into thr(^r ing {)llt okl ricrr s and r ahrts to stetrt progressilc. It is rellistic ilnd

precticll to hil\t l I)irtn{rr tor'li1e e\erl \!ith the chingcs lhrt thltiltcn llrP

jnlportirnt instilutions ol nrill-r'iage ancl ntonogamt.

Ihe moinperspe(lives

[or/ogoinslthe poinh

Your possible

slond or lhesis

reqordinq the

whole issue

ESSAY MAI(E0V[R wnmruc rNTRoDUorONS

Is the idea of havingone partner for life

a realistic one?

The world had iastly chaqqed and

nre just c fcw

Despite these changes in the world,

8

stillI

many societies attitudes of having one partner for life

34ry, desirable or even possib

7ost relieious institrltions continue to insist upon tlre

may no longer be

seem to suggest that marriage is on @."ulist4]rtotion.

ncreased life expectancy,

e reduced economic function of rnarriage and emerging liberal attitudes towards sex and

habitation,

mportance ofmonogarny and marriage believing these values to still be relevant and realistic-

9ir stand, though traditional, is one that is still held by many, et there is growing support

for the modern, individualistic urban view that ues that political and economic changes

in the lvorld have rnade the idca of a lifelong partrrcr idcalistic, archaic or simplv impossible-

IT\tte should not belt lindedlbl this nrodern !ierr or pressured into tlrlo\\ing out old \ie\1s and

\'alues 1o sccm l)r(JgrcssiYe It is le:rlistic;rnd praclicirl 1o hart,e prrrtlt'r [or life even with the

ch:rnges tbat threaten the inlportant institLrtions ol marriege :r d nronogantr'

l8 BR0ADtR PIRSPIOIVIS t/re liilrilq u.srrc

So how did we put thot oll tofiether?An onolysis of the skills we used

This openi ng, scn Lcnce is the generaltre nd./il<su mptio n that lhe question

alludes to. Please make sure }'otraddress ihe scope of --nrony

socieh-es" in yolrr examples later onin the essay. In order to be briel itis unnecessala to address all societalperspectives now. t

''necesscr!,, des[rab[e or eDenpossi6le" are possibleinterpretations of the kel word'' reo lasir'c"

Using the words "near lren.ls" is an

easy wav to introduce Iour nlainpoints.

'lhese are the possibie points yourvill raise and the cxaminer nowcxpccts you to be ialking aboutihem lalcr. Mention al most 3 so

yourse[lence does Dot become toolengthy. Notice also tlrat the pointswere summarizcd into concisedescriptions and not lengthyexplanations ofeach point. You willbc elabolating on each of thesepoints later. so there is no rush.

a)fcourse there:rrc lore points thal\ou \';ll rrisebul lisling thcnr allis, onsitletd bad ririling

It r\ hrlplrll lo Lrsr' thc k|r sordsinrrrr lhe qLrestion -ro r! tt) nr.rint:riniocus lnd thc confidentc oi thec\arninl'r ihat |oLurc addre-ssing

2

7'fhis is one particulal perspectiler'ou could choose. \\ie cho-se theperspecti\ e of religious institutionsas the! could easil] represent theconsen ati\.e right wing tnentalitythat manyhold.

$wc show the RI1ASON rvhyreligious groups take this stand andalso use the kel word "realistic"to show linkage to the question-

9 Notice how we defend this viewpoint to shorv our stand towardsthis perspectivc- We do this so tbatourfinal thesis can be built up lromthis point and will not be a baseless

sentence at the end of theintroduction.

l0lhis scntence slates the REASONSthat help justify the liberalperspective- Notice howwe use theword "idealistic" that is tleoppositeof the word "realistic" herc- This isto show the opposing vieh?oint.

ll\Ve sed negative rvords here like'bliDded" to shob our stand agaiNtthe liberal perspective.

12 l\ hat is important lo note is thai\,e led up to this stand ali ihe r.a]ihroiLghoni tltts iniroduction. It \ra:not simpl,! a scntence that lvaswritten without basis or argument.It is also impoftant to note thalalthough )ou can technicalll_ stat€your stand in your conclusion-stating it in the introduction sets a

clear dircction for the rest of th€

cssil'. In addition, students underexern conditions rarely takeconvi ncing si an ds in thci!conclusions due to the limeconstr-aint.3

4

5

6

ESSAY MAK[0V[R wnmlle rNTRoDUrnoNs

IOP 2 MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT INTRODUOION WRITING

We should defineall key lvords

in the question.

Good intlotluctionsshoulrl slallrvith a quote.

Rerding nrodel essar-s r:ialie: fi.rir" iiii.1.-;i: bilie,erh.. hould .lJrl lh i , J\ ' N'lir J ;,n L ,luorp.Unfolturatell, while starting i\ith a relerani qrcle oriaci i.,cuid be ideai. this often backtlres Ior nloststudenis- -Linder etiam condiiions Lhe alerage studentilho tries this noImally ends up using clich6rl phr-irsesoreven simplisticidionrs.'Ihcimprcssivcnessof quotingdoes not lie injust the act of quoting but rather in thefi n.:se of a sludenl in: , L cting i n ;r l,r .rn,l m'enrrrrlirlreterence point to stJrt the essdl.. .

Sone exceptional students ;n Singapore readvoraciously and possess the abilit] io do this well.Dcpending upon ihe question, these students are ableto drarv from mental banks of political, literary or-religious references. Should You aspire to do the same,then reading reputable currcnt alfairs publ;catioDs likeForeign Polic_'- or New l ternationalist or del)endableforcign nervs \\'ebsitcs like rrw-rv.bbc.co.uk ortrlr,.pbs.olg rvould bc a good start.

20 BR0ADtRPtRSPffllV[5 tirelorrri1.r7t.ssur:

Students orten espress thai thel lcei silh deilning a

the key \vords in the essav question as it makes theessars sounti juvenile. AD e\atuple of tlpical openinsentences rrould be

_Becoming ill is defined as someorfalling sick or uot feeling rvell.,{s long as we are humal'e trll fall sick. ' In realitt-, this does sound silll - S

lvhat exactly is i{Tong here?

To clari!, it is in fact necessarl'to define key rvorr *onll'when the meaning ofthe key word bas the potenti:to be misunderstood (double meaning) or is subjectiror simply needs to be defined for the sake of settilthc scope ofargument. l,et us consider a question liorthe 2()r)6 Nov paper.

Slrnuld crirrres rhot l]'ere c.)rn nitte.l

The rvord "crines" necds to be dcfined as it citpotentially involvc a very wide scope and rnanl Iearago" needs to be dcined here as it is subjective- In botcases lhe examiner needs to understand horv 1'ou defiIrthe tcrms so they understand tlre scope oftlre argllmelrIlut "forgotten" does not need to be defined as morpcople r^'ould not need this basic rn'orcl clarified.'Ihesopening sentences to the essav- h'ould suffice asdefinition of key terms:

AII nrcnttpr oJ crinutnl ociutlv lt.ls b c conthttllpthrouglr tle lears ratlgitry f'o l petty thqft to politic(tr-s.s(rs.sindhbn to euen nass ef,-terrlination of entiraces. Despite tlle graD[tA of sonte of these crirtte"-todaa's cUrical and self absorbed people houe begutto forget crinles cofitrrilled os corly d-s (I .lecatle ogo-prc1rrtiull L, nruc,,tt r ith l4' ,t' rlnu s,, nt' I'oit't itrttnenthering the sitt-s ol the po-st.

As oppos(i to ...

('firn.i rrr tle/irr.r/ irs rlono rl,rirros ll)dl Ir,)j'1{'i,)Jrrrrrr (rqrli/r-sl rrrr{ llr,,ll, 1'lr,'i, ( ? r:rr':i cr-'rill li.rr'.'nt, n canntittatl lr,,nr r,ir\rrrf /,1!r'{,? l,r)1/.(rr\ r,d,)1t rj b,!!r1s. lfirv rrr{ (',,'rrll]rr(11i() ,l1]lrq t/rdr: irv,)l/rdl i)(!41{,u i/1t(,,r(1r()r r,' rrrri'rr{'i l/r./rl

\\'hen we define ke! ternls tre are n()i ,\ul)posed io gr\rrrr, r r'. ,..; "J ",' '1.l'.r' '.'l| r 'l'rr- rl, ' I

th:rt \\ r) r (1. Iheljrstt\irDple(r'\!rottcleirrh rlellneslhc scopr ofilrE,unrrnt $hercas thc scconrl orrc nr. r'el]dcfiI]cs the nlcaning, of kcv rvords. \Vbich one sorrndsless sillr ?

GRANDMOTHTR TESBIAN

FROM MANHAITAN

OLrI \!rit( rs itsk,'d t(lr:rmr thrir:rns\\.r\ in ii \r\ thitt rcileclr!l thtb:r.kir,roLrrr(1. cr t rl r(l bL'li.i s\stenr o1 thL'ir inl,il)tea

])elsonr as fairl\ as pr)ssil)lc

\!riters hid lo choos(fr'onr r pool o1 conrnron c\lnll)les rhosen lrl our-tcanlto denronstralr lhrl th('sarnc L-\:rnrPles cirn bc uscd l)\in{li\-idurls lo 1(n'nr rilthcr dilliJ'irrrt prrspr(rli\ L's l lrcs€

|xIurples lI(' higbliglrted lh! oLrglrt)Lrl l lre arli'- 1..'

FROM IHE BRONX

ln Snl:rp,rrt. tc hrrrr, ;r

dirrrsitr ol !ir\s lboul issLris l)ut lhc rangi oiLrt::rl\ ifr s \ ill not be as \\ide as lhe ranijc of slrbal r ie$ s

:rraillble Baningourabilih tocon\irrcelr \\.iscon-cinr.r!1.,'rr",r'; lr. i .l''rlr,.rLL,' rrLL

l(r' us- \\'e thouglrl thc rlc\t bcst llrirl{ \rils lo gct trlcnt(lwriteni io method \\.ritc sintiler l() ho$ actor-s irserrchio stcp in chrncter-li)r a llim.

IHt BRONX GRANDMA VS. THT MANHATIAN LESBIAN

A GRANDMOTHERFROM THE BRONXos conceived by DEBORAH THAM

Nobody can do without family-As a grandmother I have cometo understancl this very clearly.My daughter has run off withhcr latesl hol.friend once again.If it weren't for me, my twoyoung grantlkids wouldn't evenhave a roof over their heacls, letalone someone to love thenr.

On)l family can give a person the care ald lovehe ieeds to become a r{ell adjusted adult. Notonlr'that, the family is important as theco.nerstone of society.

Without family societl, i{ill crumble- Just lookat,tapan for example. Il's makjnt the newsnurrJde)s as lh. col'nln \\tlllthplargest ageingpopulation because oler there nobodl rlants tohave a familv anrnore. 'l-lte\' onl\' \!ant to \,!orkancl rnake monel and the\ lhink h.\iDs kids sillhinder their careers. I'hirt s so self-cente.ed andnrirteiali-stic and it s becornins.Japan s do!'niirllI heir popLrl;rtion anrl thur lhtir w,,rkf,'rc"':rrtslrrinkinr lronrt:,1h this nrcrns tlrn r,rrr t l'.':rbir to kc.rp lhcnr*i\ r; rr, h in thr rnd lx,crr..ihcre s no onc tr) d., the \ork \\'orse still. th('rr, 'rltrrr', .rrrd l" lirt. lr- uu( bucauie LII rcl r."lanlil\ unit t()

'rsiill lhcsr r'alues. or nrr

\ ollnl]slers t(r pass tlrrnr on to t his jLrsr sh(^!s|rnr hor\ much thc lanrih is r!(n1h.

22 BR0A0tR PtRSPtOIV[5 l/rc /i:rr;tiia is.suc

Ier. iir:'l: [.'ilr7 r'rrirTrlises of f[L,e ixtrorqhs ir.,iih hrrndreds r]i,rrcit: ltbou-ht.'cttis cfrJistirrcl cAol-rctels, iti.sloi ics rinri ciillrrri'.s.'fhe Bronx bur,,uqi, rs r1.irnirioi, .i b-rl

bltLe-coi[ar .,lli ct ,a,ntericcnt.s cnrl rr.,rrs <ornrnortly portrayer! irt tlu: tgSos us ct

uorking-.lc-;s ititg hbou'hoctci buttling t'ioLente. urllcLn ruin oncl pot et ttl.The llarrhatt:rn borotr'r7lt'.s crrliiire is coloiii,.:c b!,,rts predriniiri tiittitl t-tliite colkn'.

white ,ltncricitrt ititpulotion tlte Li14ttr Tl.'asi Sirie i.s tlie intullc. trr.iI rind clerif ii,ccentre af Nert' York, ulbrtntllJ BoJrcntian anci politicallll liberal tt'hile the UpperEast Sitle is one o;f the Luealthiest neighbot"trhoorls in IJSA itselj'.

But despite kno\ring all this theyare still making it so hard for an1'oqre

to keep the family going nowaday's.

All these prcfit-driven corporationslike wal-Mart are just take andtake from thcir employees and give

so little in rcturn. I hardly getenough fronr working at wal Martto pay offthe bi)ls and jfit lveren'tfor Social Security I don't krorv rvhatI'd do. Ml grardkids irnd I can'teven get health benefits and mysuperwisor's been pushing me towork overtime ncarly er,'eI1day. AJI

at a time when my grandkids needme more thal ever now that Cassie's

learning to walk and Mike's startinghigh school and he's so insecure andworried about his new class{s- These

corporate policies and wagcschenes just kecp me from beingtherefor my family when they needmc.

Fl\er|oDe seerns hell bent ondestror ing ihc-se precious laorilrlies- tjrsl econonritalll and rors.,riallt llikeiu,.l iol(1 orc last nightabout his prr)terl ,rn thtrrirnthrl]pologist pe0plt lii,.'Nl:u-garet Ilead. I cirn t lrcli.'r,anrone \:oLrld L(r rround tclling lh(llorlcl tlr:rt monog;rrrl is !nnllurrllIt s all lhrnks to such silly br:liclrthat lhere are so nr;rrrv br0kcIl

families norvadays. People likc mydaughterjust use such statemenGtojustirywhy they can sleep aroundand not bother about maintaininga stable familJ' environment. As a

result theirpoor kids don't have anyloving home and iust grow up all$Tong like these youth gargs in theneighborhood. Society just becomesterribly unstable in the end \aithouta strong familY unit.

But I guess that despite all thesethings threatening to break upfamily nowadays people are stillpulling through. You don't needtradjtional dads and moms to bringup the kids anymore. Look at MsJolic and hcr adopted kids forexample. She's been such a greatrole model.I totally \rnderstand howshe feels. lt just shon's how familyis really al) about reaching out tosonreone in need no nratter aboutbaekground or coloul And at thesame tilne, jt gives lou such a

l ond t'rful lceling of p,-'r,.ona1

fulfillmt nt an(l lifr purpose thalrn:r1.,:.rll lhc hardships roLr grr

through i. orthr. hil, . -l hal s r. hi I

beliere no one (rn do \'ithoullanrjl\, it pro\idcs \ou \-ith all thelove support \o! nce(l to lace lllctlt:rllcng.s ol lhi. \.!rrl(1. ft

I)cborah thinks the Add(rD)s /:nrriil i-s .r 4rcor rrk tnod.l filr lLunilies bdaa

THI BRONX GRANDMA V5. THI MANHATTAN IESBIAN

FRO MANHANANcrs conceived by YASMEEN HUssAlN

MLESBIAN

I remernber Pa, NIa, Alfred andrnyself laughing as we walkedto church e ve 11, Sunday,clu tching eac h other,reaffirming our bonds ofkinship. Thal till today r.emainsone crf my slrongt'sl memorit'sof chilclhood and I often findmyself wishing that the essencebf that moment could repeatitself throughout the rest of mylife.

Unfortun:ltely- lile as a voung adult was never<hurt oltrUbuhn,.e. Ar ro Iaskprl lorgivenessfrom God u,hen I realisecl I could not stop lovingIsabel- At 24. I brought Cerolhome- At 32, I,vebeen rriih Carol eighl \ears no\r. When $,ediscussed starti g a famih. I ihorrglrt of horv Icould rcc.pture that moment from iong ago.

BLrl a rnEii. ntemon of rhildhood llclies theconrDle\iir , ,i n i i liirnih i: .1ll rh ]tr I To tl ifteFnlcultures. iiimil\ hl)lds difl(,rrIlt nrr.enin!s errrl i:nrudc rrp or rliilIr'inr dln:rrrlicr. \\hit i;rrrrll\.rj,r,J. lur Jr,r ',r,r, , lr,.r llr,rr nol l)(.in rrellrrti()o , )i \ hirl the stlle r)r inslit tions ha\ r,,l rr','rr,,l- lr,, j,,1,.rt ,., ( l,r'r. l:..,rt\,.,r.bi :rlrrrt'rl t0lr:l\ r lirrDrc(l lhc l)r$i-L olthc \\'L5trrnc(r)cL'l)l ol llnrih onc l:lascd on ltonogarnr :rnrlsecll as r nrriuns of estirblishiu!, or-rler. and

24 BR0ADtRPfRSPt{TlVtS tir,./irni/i7is..;rl:

i

In Hitler's fascis t Germanymeanwh jle, lanrilf lvrs cxplnitqdchrldren becanry spies of the slatpby reporting or their parents-

'fhe histolicai context of family isvadcd, but what farnily offers is alsouniversal in a verf important way.When a couple in love form theiro!r.r llmily, iheir bonds oflove arestre gthened. -fhev have sharedresponsibilities and their clrilclrenare the mediuDrs through whichsharcd memodes are fonned. Theseadtlts livcs are inftlsed witlr a newsort ofmeaninB - life is about morethan themselvcs. lt is about thcnurturing of souls dependent onyou, a journey itway from selfcentredness. The worrying trend oflow birth raies r-:J in Japan, a

technolos/ savrv nation that pridesitselfo:1its u'ork ethics. for e:iample-su&qests that as eco omies !:ei morcadvanced, prior-ities shifl. lianr;l)and a meaninp;fu) liie is replacetl b1

ambition. Dortetan wealth a pathlhat C:rrol anr:i I rrr l..n lo iloid.

Cbildr,:n unclorrbtcdlv cannot dcr

\\ithorn ihe lo|e thrt be[rnging to e

lanrih alfords thern \rrnrcrorrsrest';rr-ch has sllo$n thrl slrrd( nls\ith supfor'li\c pirr( nls who showinterest in iheir rrrll bcing tcnd klperlblnr rvcll in schor)1, rr'hile those

r'r'ho corne from single-parenthomes tend to do worse. Orphansgrowing up without adequaLe caresimilarly suffcr. Surely then, it islogical, that Carol and I be grantedthe opportunity to adopt childrenwho would otherwise be worce off.It is llawed that stigma ardprejudice o\erride clear gains to theadopted child. Amongst theprcj dice that \1'e face dshomosexuals is the con\iction thatall homosexuals agree h.ith [,lead'sbclief that polygamy is natural-Carol and I are iD fact committedto each other Other-ivise- \'\.ewouldnot have children for r,r.hom anenr.ironment of dedication and carei\.ill reed to be prc\'ided.

In the :rst century, the concept offamiiy is undergoing redefinition.'I'he Jolie-Pitt famill is a

denonstmtion of holr-fanrilf is noloDger aboul ties ol blood - ralhcrit is aboui conrpassion and lo\'eColour and background is of nor.'lerance \lerr- Chcner.pr{rgnanc} too. hrs drirnr:rticxllrchanged ih. mindsct dr31 th.'ti,.nil\colnpriscs ol nrolher, lathtr arl(tchildren.

The growing belief norvis thai two lovingparents of the same sexcan indeed provide a

nuftudng and tolerantenvironment for theirchildren. Family is stillimportant, for thesupport andjoy it gives,and also because it is ameans of orderingsociety.

Despite its redefiniiion, the functionof family is still fulfilled it is ameans thrcugh rvhich a purposefirllife is lcd for both parent and child.

I am ronfiden! Lhat Caroland rrll-selfrvill be capablt, ol capturing theessence o{famih rrhcn $,t'rrise ottrchildrrn. \1e helit'!r lhirt r'ilhchildrcn r'i' rrn r:rll hnril\. (rtrr

lir es srll b,: i nrx hlrl ir nLrnrcr,ltsn,l s I!

IE BROADtR PtRSPtOIViS tle /irnriiri issue

SINGAPOREANS HAVT KNOWN IHE DTPRTSSING.TACIS TOR YIARS

- WE ARI JUST NOT REPRODUCING fASI ENOUGH IO REPI.ACE

OURSEIVES. SINGAPORE NEEDS 60,000 BABIES YEARLY BUT RTAPS 35,500 ONLY.

A5 OF 2006, SINGAPORTANS WOULD HAVT HAD 30 YEARS OF UNDER.RIPLAIEMENT.

stNtE l9/6, wE HAVE N0T SttN 0UR IOIAI FERTILITY RATI {IFR} G0 BEYOND THE

MU(H PRIZED NUMBIR OF 2.I BABIES PER WOMAN. GLOBATISAIION PILTS ON THE

PRESSURt: 53% 0F SINGAPOREAN Y0UIH WOULD CONSIDER EMIGRAII0N AND 2/3 0F

IHEM WOUID LII(E TO WORK ABROAD.

,e are ]rot alonc inbattl;n!i tlre illobalpandemic of populatiorrshrinkage- [n 2oo5,both (lcrmanl' and.lapan saw for the firsl

tirne, lheir deatb mtes olrt'nunlber-their birth .ates Feflilib levels forthe n'orld as a l'hole fcll bl molethlrn 40% bet\leen the 195os to2ooo. RoughlJ',83 out of 192

countries :rac bel{^r replacenenlfeltility patlerns todav -- rneaning

44% ofthe $,orid's total Populationis apparently incapable or unwillingto replace itsell

'l'here are no eas)r'explanations for thisphenonrenon. \Vhilt-' rnany ofustt picall\' belie\'e sh ri n kingpopulations to be an erciusivelv!uropean or dc' eloped nationproblern. ihe startling thing is lhaisubrtpl3c.'rDent hrtil;t) societiesrrtludr' countr it:s iiie Leirrruon uiSr i l-enkr -llpaMtl\ 1h. larstst.,,ll( (, trirtirrr (il \hi inkjr:t \(x'i.ticsis in l-:ast -\sir 'Jirl)iiD- lh.r \-.irrn'l igtrs (llr)nS N{)rrg. Kotea.Singlpore ard I air':rn) rrrrtl Cbinal'r nollhlc.\irlrrll.s

Gencral assulnptions cannotbc applied across the board.Higb lc\els olillitemcJ- and po\'e \.lo not alwavs guarantee high birthrates :ts seer i llangladesh wbjchhah'ed its tdal ferlili0, rate dur-injlthe past:Jo Iears. strict feligiousattitrdes do not:lwavs maiDtainhigir fertilit) ratcs Iran s

regimental lslamic clcrEl' hale nolp revented fertility rates fronrdrcppingb) h{o thirds overthe last26 years, causinll ii to sit on theurlcomfortable brink ofsubreplacemeni fertilii!.

Developed nations face a hauntjngfuhrre excluding the Unitcd Stetcsrvhich secs healthy inflorvs ofimmigrants antl high feniliO rates

toial deaths alread) e ceed totalbirths in all dereloped natio'rs bval.nosl halI a rnillion a rcar.

De\'eloped nations arcprc.riding gt'nt'rous inccnti\ r'sto crcourage lheir citizenn togcl marricd or pr(,(1uccchil<1rcn. ilrliirn \'onlcn qel ir

ilcnrrrJu-L inc(nii\r tr; pr,ri1Lr,:, :r

scconcl I'irnrbino ln r(n)4..\llslr irliilrrlli(rl it. Ircoirir.to he(. r'nI(babr) for urrrnr- one fol tl:rtl anrl(rnc lor lire courrlrt , |roriditrg a

nc\1 rS'J.ooo uraiernit\. irllo\\ilncc

and $r9 billion extra iD familypavmcnts. Singapore has freed upmolc iUedisave funds tbr childdcli\.cry expenses, prolided taxrcbatcs for new parents and'\^,orking mothers, exten.led paidrnaternitt l{-'ave horn 8 \lecks to 12

and promised financial suppoft tohnril)' fricncll)' compan;L's. lIa\inga finit clrild i Singapore nets a Bab)llonrs of 53, ooo (ash. a secoDd

child guarantees $9, ooo cash andup to $rB, ooo cash lvill be givenfor a lhird or fourth child.

Unfortun.rtely, fe$' people liketo be nagged or bribed intotheir government's ideasabout m:rrriage andparenthood. least otali thoscbrcdon lrotions of lree choice. Suchgolernmental Pol ic ies ha\eachic\ed lirnited success so tar.\l'hilc -{ustralia re\crsed its '1FR

iloir i ::l ill 2ar(ji to i -- iIl ]oo-1.

it still r','m:rin: Lrndlr r.fi:rr.nrrtrlriil, sin!::ir,,r, rr.iili rlrth iririlrd]rrt;irlr i,r ., , Llr, ih. . jrr lr)li(irs\ill nurl3t htr f,l\l thcsrl)r.l)lircenrenL rr)rtc in thi' nt.\t

L()CAI- GL()BAT THT FUTURE IS GRIY

lnll France, thc Neth€:rlands irDd

:ite No.dic countrics ha\ e

juccesslulll kept fertilii) ratesr€ralth\'\\'iih a combiD alion ofr\cellent child care scr\ iccs.jeneroui lanlih 1a\ allo\lances and

righ qualitI pilrt tinle \ork.

l'he fastest short-term solutionieems to be openness to a

iignificantly larger inflow ofimmigrants. This, though, is a

rhallenge to ihe ve.] culture andlnique identity oftlre migrant's hostrountries, Br' 2o5o, apProximatel)r quarter of Europe's inhabitanls t

"ri]l probably be non European in

rr-igil, character and beliefs ifgurope maintains current feftilityrates and depends ol1 immigmtion:ls a solution- Japan infamous forLts almost non existent migration,cr'els - may face a future whcre upro l/3 ofits total poDlrlation is gaijilr

iforcigner).

I'he supply of migrants is noissue for many people of NorthAfrica, the Middle East, sub-SaharanAfrjca and South Asia are glad tofind a nerv homc that goaranteesiafety, education and emplo)'rnent.Demand is the issue politicall]incorre.t as it is. few couniriesappreciate embmcing a future r,,/here

lheir ven t.aditions ancl lifestylesappear in danger of e\tinctionbecause of an in\nsion offoreigners.

Singapore has doubled thc nLrrberr)l citirrnshi|s grirnted ironr fi.sooi 2r)i)r I0 rr.)oo in ?()i)i DasDilalhr urrrilr!. o{ tht Singlpoleans,)\rrnllrtnt t,, recall Singapore s

oisinirl idrntit\' as i nrigrunl-iuelldport cii\. e\-el] Singal)orcansIcpu tt'd Ior ha\jn;l rrlali\r'l\pcirr t'able r it trs :ibi)ut rirri.:inrlrrliSior in lhc Asian rt-'gion ha\'ebcglln to voico

il Tii1Aru D

P*tITi{AtLY

!t{{0ftRE[T A5 tT

iiYJ LOUNTRITS

A FUil,iRI WHiR[

THTIR v-IRY TRADITION'

AIiD LIFISTYIES

APPiAfi iN DAIIGTR

0F EXTII'tiTlSru

BE|AUS| OF A}t

tNVAsl0il 0tFOREIONERS.

out \enophobic grouses about theinr:ri:isiiig'prcsenct' ol Chinese andIndiarr irriinigrants in theirneighbourhocxls

-\_eredheless. de\eioped nations arelalingout their \\elcome nrats ir anincrL'arinsli c.r.npetitire bid ior the

rost desirable iir,tnigrants ill thes,orld: r.he hrghl', skilled andeducated professionals, Inrmigrationprocesses have been stream-linedand s bstantial amounts ofmonejare being given to brandingconlpanies to package host countries,just a little brighter and betler thanthe next.

Any shrinking socielv uill {ace theissues of dcclinirrg economic \itality,thc threat of cultural extinction,increascd socio economic burderron the .enlai]ring )'oung workers anda possible compromise on one'sdefence capabilities (particularly forsmallc(nrntriesl.

The future right nolv appears to beliterally and figuratively grey, In2()25, the median age of thedeveloped rvor'1d r,r'ill beappro\imatel) 45 -!-'ears. Japan willhave a mcdian age of49 with morethan a fifth of its citizenry over 70years oltl. China's high levels of lifeexpectancy and radical populationcontrol po)icies nlean that seniorcitizens will ac(ount for a seventhof its total population. Pto\'idingaf{ordeblt' healthcare an,l economicsuppo for the elderlv $illbt'conea pressing ghbal issut'.

\\'hik' dcnrographers could still be

r ron.q ill ihcir peisimisticpleciirtirxs- lhe i. orid toulcl do rrellto prepare 1o 11cc thL'consequenrcsof this :;enentior's contixrrcd drifito\\'ards ioicrtilitr'. l,

r5 T*li i55ur

APfRE{IAiE iMBRAIING

t5,

28 BROADIR PIRSPIITIVIS thc.lirrniftT r-srrre

PROJECTTD PTRCENT OF VARIOUS (OIJNTRIES'

POPULATIONS THAT ARE 65 AND ABOVE

2iJ25 - 2.8y.SII]RR.q. LEONF]

MAI-AYSIA

INDIA

CIIINA

SINGAPORI,

HONC KONG

GERNLANY

ITAI-\

2(|25 - 8.1o/.

2ooo - 4.9yo2lJ25 - 8.3vo

2oo1) - 7-64/02lo25 - t3-7o/o

2ro25 - 18.21/0

2ooo - 8.to/o2lo25 - 19-59/.

2o2S - 24Y.

2.too - t8.9yo2<t25 - 21.6.|r'.

?o2;2llr,;.'APAN

I

I

I

I

1

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

t

I

I

I

:

l

i

I

Do you gct exasperatcd ert lhe mount:riIr of plastic bats ]'ouhave storerl under thc sink that never seenls to stopgrowing?And ifyou arc fashion conscious, don't )'ou hiite howpl.rstic bags make you look less stylisb, itot to n)ention ho\4/

heavily ladcn plastic bags cut painfttll-v into your hands? So

wh].not starl briDgirlgyoul orvn stylish, harld friendl)', rcusablc

shopping bag 1o your favou te supermarket?

Supporl environmcntally frientlly corporations like IKEA ardembracc the push to Bring Your Own Shopping Bag. In

Singaporc, about 2.5 bi)lion plastic shopping bags arc used

eren' r.ear - that-s ill)otlt ?,5(lo l)a:l,s usecl per fanl ih pcr' l ear!

lfeach famill uses one less plastic bag a u'eek, Singiiporc could

save irlore lhan 5o million bags eaclr l ear. Your- littlc eflilt c:trr

tLr a lrrt ,rnt lcss plastic beg rrsr:d b! r'orr lnclrns .)lrL less I)lilsti(itg lloaling eiorrnrl in thl i nr ironnlctlt lhrt rould I)l rlrlltiallrr'!r,rle,rur rn:ritsrort:.rltslr'or,,rrt trrarin, l i f,: rl r l , l l i t t .' l r,ur

irr;iri,r':. \\ ho sa] s \ ()u c:trl-t ch:rngc the rr lrrld?

f

i::r

he i.stiiutioa of famil\ isseen to be dcclining inSingapore. with increasjngnumbers of single parent

1:rmilies and ch siirnctional ieerlaSerspointed to as signs of its denrise.The blarne is laid. otten witb greataccuracy, at the door of orr careerdrivcn societv. lt is an irnpartiairealislic truth tLal dcmandingjobsand professional ambitions aremaintained aod achieved ?t greatcost to famil] relationshlps due totheir time-consuming and strcssfulnature- Yet it is too narro\\'to(iisrliss career pulsuit as bringingnothing but hard.hip for the iimihln a snrallsignifi.irnt \\r\ it hrs alsobrousht ;rlt.rnirli\ e benufits tob:rllnrr',,ut iis (l isildIa n I r 3es.

( arecr horl c\ er is srill ttreirrfanrous nrain cause behi nddo\rr]\ttrrd trolds of thL'lnlnillunit in Singaporr: likc ourfalling birth rates. Iluc i,) it-\rmlll sir(. Sinsirt),)r( hrs l,r

mzl\imise its onlv resource- people,in a whiic-collar economy. Coupledwith our high costs of living. this hascreated llew generations oi \\'orkingclasscs who are career focused asthe olfice job remains the moststablc, geDeral form of income- Asa lesu]1, to the PragmaticSingaporean. starting a familvbecomcs an iurpractical idea aschildren requir-e time and patieDlcare $,hich the busy olfice rvorkerstri\.ing to hit thc next deadline isuDable to provide. Stafiilg a famil]is furlher put off as Singrporcan

'onleD enter thc \\jorklorce- A career1!itir ils stimulating rrork challengesrt'\tardcd br peNonal inconie firakcsth{'lradiiioDal talr1ih dLrt\ oi sla\:rt honre \rifc ilnd nroth.r rlull andfinin(iilh unatlrafti\ e I)\ ,rjnii irsi.I hrrrli)re il is tlir 1.) stite lhel thr\ir11r, ,)t tenlil\ hrs thus bcrnrrrrric|nrincd bv rarrfr as xr:rtfliiriilins ir. no\ \\i,Jt,]\ perc,ri|t'd tobling more lulfilnrent thnn cll)sekinship ti.s

Ncgative changes in theperccptions and treatment ofclderly are another price thefamily unit has had to pay for'the pursuit ofcareer. With thervoridoad and need to netr,t'o.k togain business contacts conles a nroreaffluent, social lifest_vle that leavesless and less time lbr inleractionwiih the elderly me bers of thefamily, r\lso, the elderly often havediffering interests and \alues fromthe more

'iberal )'oung office-

\rorkers !\tich t ?1lics it even hardert0 maintain to communicate wititthem as individuals. These Degatilenttitudes broughl on inditectll b)ihv rise of carcer lifcstrles inSiDgapore can be seen bl iheincreasin,q numbers of \'orkingsingles .rr- co'.rp!.s flarios eldcrllrrlatirr's in,rld toiks- homes- ThiS inerp,rrr'a n goii'rnlnenl h:rseslinralrd it \\ill rlced to increast-nurrbers ,)i such honre-. fronl 5o 1o

3o br ro ro

56 BROADER PtRSPilIVtS thLr sir(/op{)ru Lss11.

llv haring a cercer has rnade

n ed\rcf tn cut \Urh h ril\ trr\latest Singapore policies gi\ing

kers rtith incornes 0i S33oosidies 1or sending aged parenLs

such hoines-

i has further caused thedo$_n of the fanilY unit

ornton lnternaiional 2oo6te.national Business (l\\ ners'rvev has placed Singaporeployees at the most stressed

ll], \.!rth 57% siafing that theirlevels had increased since thd

ious 1,ear. These iDcreasedls ofstress due to the demandscareer have resulted in

ychological problems likepression, or increasing rates of

ugh the host ofemotionalpsychological onslaught it

ngs upon the individualich er.tends to diffrculties inily relationships. The Gra-nt

oholism. Ultimatelv the familv

5% of marriages in Singapore

er for the nrarital breakdown-

dismiss $ ork as briDgingY disadvantaues for societ].

f{ers the backlash of career-ted stress with an increase iniial conflicts as the workload

d high-powered Singap0reanplace atmosphere strains the

ience and tolerance levels ofdir.iduals, resultjDg ofien jn

rce. Figures show ihat some

ve ended in divorce- with halfing work-related stress as the

us family has becomecreasingl]' fragnrentcd witlL

ter nunbers of single parcnimilies and alienated divorceeserging lilh c\'nical !ier!s oi

arnilge

onetheless. it is lor) lirnit{:d

crreer lifr'-st\le ha,. also sidell;ls for lrnrilvand socit't.\ rtich

a\''n li re help allerialc ilsar,lilril,s Urrc str' h Jrtneilr ls lhe

!ircaler income a careerurdispuledll brings for a famill.Reasonrble rvhite collar s;laries inSingapore have allorved workers toafford more lururies benefiting thefamilr intellechrallv and phr sicall].Career holders are better able toshoulder the increased medicaie\penses of their rclations- medicalcosts go up. The\ can also pro\idethem \ith better amenities to ease

the old age oftheir elderlr reiationsand lentthen their lives, such as

prouding them 1!rth con]fortablehomes, domestic help and nursesto attend to iheir ph!-sicaldisabilities zrnd material enjoymentslike trips overseas and spas. Carcerhoiders are also better able toprovide a good education for theirchildren and afford tuition andgoodbooks, conrpared to the poorerfamilies whose children may growup in a less privileged andi ntellectu all]' stimulatingenvironment- Thus career canbenefit the family unit as it enhancesthe family's standards of living-

Also, work provided analiernate 'family' in forms ofsocial support groups whichhave brought togetherotherwise isolated singleindividuals. I\,Iany rnultinationalcorporations in Sirgapore likeLenovo. Bausch and Lomb haveconducted manv team building andbonding programmes amongst itsemployces. Nloreover. the close-knitgroups among office $orkers aisoshare lheir grievances and stressrelated problerns \\'hile this $illnelti be a perlect replacemenl foriile iamii! unrr- th(],sl] socialgroups

Il]\ ]n rrrpotlint pirt in brin{ir!.lt.'f!raiii e -:ources oi a!r( irnLlwlrnrth t(r l)Lrs\ rorking inditdrralsitho nra\ be isolated horr ol rleniedi s!ppi)rti|r'falnil\'unit due tod\shrnrtil)nal home,s or diror|e

Thus, while it is fair tocorir ment that career hasdestabilised the family unit inSingaporc, it is limitingto staletha! cAteer has onl!' brou8htdisadvanlages for the family.Career has also brought with iialternative benefits for the famil_v.

rthich contribute significantll tosocieta s ph\sical and emotionailLell being in the long run and helpe|en out its negati\'e impacts.'rlloreover, the efforts are bei g

made to tackle the problem of t}edeclining famil] unit- TbeSingaporean government hasestablished policies like its BabyBonus scheme to entice workers torethink the concept of family andchildren, The gove.nment hashousing scheme policies in placervhere families rvho live near theirelderly parents or relatives getpriority in HDB flat allocation. Ithas also tried introducingrvorkshops in the workplace onstress management and coulsellingservices for troubled maritalrelationships. All these policies mayhave varying success rates, yet atleast there is a recognition of theproblems posed by demandingcareer lifestyles upon the family unitanda movernent to re-establish and

slrengtien familial ties. Thus, there

is yet hope for the Singaporeanfamily unit that it may combal thenegative effects of a solely career

oriented outlook and remain a

strong morul pillar of societ-v. f t

IHIRI iS YIT HOPT

fOR THI5INGAPOREAN

fAMItY UilIT THAi

II MAY IOMBAT THI

NtGATIVi EIIi05OF A sOtEtY $RIIRORIINTID OUIIOOl(.