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Chapter 6: What are the experiences and effects of living In a diverse…
Chapter 6: What are the experiences and effects of living In a diverse society?
Interactions in a
diverse society
There must be a willingness to live together and build harmony as a society
With a diverse population, there will be more opportunities for cultural exchanges between residents and non-residents, enriching learning and understanding of one another
As societies become increasingly diverse, it is essential to ensure harmonious Interactions
Common space
Needed to cultivate and enlarge an overlapping sphere among people of different racial groups to promote more social interaction, collaboration and a stronger national identity
Refers to physical space, shared values and common experiences that build our
national identity
(Provides time and space for interactions)
Social, cultural and sporting events are examples of common space
Provides opportunities for peopler of different nationalities, races and ethnicities, religions and socio-economic status
Provide a conductive environment for Intersection to take place
People's Association (PA), Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC) and
One-People.sg
Challenge In
a diverse society
Competition
for resources
Standard of living
With Increasing Inflow of foreigners, some Singaporeans fear that foreigners are taking their jobs away
Foreigners come as PMET (Professional, Managers, Executives and Technicians) or low-skilled workers
Government has recognised these concerns and has tightened the Immigration framework and put in place more stringent foreign workforce controls to reduce the Inflow of foreign manpower in Singapore
At least 6 In 10
are concerned about...
Housing affordability 83%
Meeting needs of elderly
Healthcare affordability 78%
Access to healthcare
Losing jobs to foreigners 66%
Potential Increase In crime rate
Overcrowding due to foreigners
Job security
Public transport reliability
Concerns arise because of Increasingly congested public transport system, competition over healthcare resources as well as availability of public housing
Singapore needs high-skilled foreign manpower to add value to Singapore's economy
We also need foreign entrepreneurs who set up firms here and hire local Singaporeans
With the inflow of foreigners Into Singapore, there will be questions on how Singapore are able to cope with increased competition or opportunities and living space
Resources in the form of opportunities or availability of infrastructure could lead to tension between foreigners and locals
Social mobility
Income gaps between the lower and higher Income groups have Increased over the years
Many Singaporeans feel that social mobility Is limited
However, Income gap Increased because lower Income groups working In the manufacturing sector were affected by the shifting of jobs to regions which offer lower labour costs
Government emphasises on
Re-training and learning of new skills
Meritocracy (one is rewarded based on merit, regardless of race, language or religion or socio-economic status)
Experiences and effects of
living in a diverse society
Negative
Misunderstandings (stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination)
Competition
Positive
Exchange and appreciation (culture, skills, knowledge)
Exchange and appreciation
In a diverse society
Attitude towards Interaction Is important
Positive attitude allows people to respect and appreciate diversity, which facilities meaningful Interaction
Exchange and
appreciation of culture
Singapore's diverse society provides people with many opportunities to Interact and learn from those who hail from different countries and cultures
Result In fusion between
local and foreign Ideas
Exchange of skills
and knowledge
Foreign scientists can share their knowledge and expertise to strengthen research competencies and collaborations with Singaporeans
Prejudice and
misconceptions
Negative sentiments can arise when people jump to conclusions about others and make Incorrect judgements due to insufficient understanding and erroneous assumptions
Stereotypes are generalised thoughts about people and it is beliefs held by one social group about another social groups
Opportunities to interact also bring possibilities for misunderstanding
Negative stereotypes becomes prejudices
Prejudices can lead to discriminations against the victims who are either hurt or excluded from Interactions
Prejudices can arise from misconceptions linked to nationality, race and ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status
Can create an environment where discrimination can happen more often and may lead to a country being seen as xenophobic