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SS Issue 2: Living in a Diverse Society - Coggle Diagram
SS Issue 2: Living in a Diverse Society
Chapter 4: Diversity
Identity
Identity comes from how you define yourself and how others define you.
When we learn more about our identities and that of others, we understand what makes us similar and different.
This understanding can bring people closer together or create tensions and challenges.
Our Identities are complex as they are shaped by various influences in society.
Nationality
It is the status of belonging in a particular nation.
It is synonymous with citizenship.
Nationality comes through a legal status and having a sense of belonging to a nation and sharing common experiences with other people of the nationality.
Having a shared identity helps to define citizenship; People of the same nationality usually share a common history, traditions and practises and live within the same geographical area.
This sense of shared identity is also known as National Identity.
People from the same country are able to identify common experiences, attitudes, and beliefs shared by citizens of our country.
Race and Ethnicity
Race refers to the classification of people based on physical characteristics such as color of their skin.
Ethnicity refers to ones ancestry, language and cultural practices.
Race and Ethnicity are complex and not always clearly defined.
Ethnicity can differ within the same racial group.
Race and Ethnicity beliefs and practises strongly shape our lives, values and beliefs.
Religion
It is a set of beliefs and practices observed by a group of people.
Most religions embody a set of shared core beliefs and practises.
Believers keep to these beliefs and practises regardless of nationality and ethnicity.
These beliefs and practises would then shape the way we interact with others, the choices we make and our thinking.
These are currently ten major religions practised in Singapore, the major ones being Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Taoism.
One can either be born into a religion or accept the faith later in life. The latter makes religion different from ethnicity. Religions are also not bound by nationality.
Singaporean citizens are free to profess and practise their religion, as well as propagate it. This is protected under Article 15 of the Singapore Constitution.
Socio-Economic Status (SES)
It refers to an economic situation shared by a group of people and some determinants are occupation, income, education and ownership of wealth.
Socio-Economic status plays a key role in influencing one's identity as this affects one´s choices in areas such as food and housing as well as determining one's social circle of friends.
The socio-economic status of a person is not fixed. Through hard work, an individual can move from lower to higher levels of income.
This movement is called ¨Social Mobility¨.
In order for social mobility to happen, many measures have been put in place to support the needs of the lower socio-economic status groups, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education financing.
It is important that these two areas are well supported as they enable people in lower socio-economic status groups to meet their basic needs and work towards improving their well-being and social mobility.
Chapter 5: Why is there a Greater Diversity in Singapore Now?
Working Parent
Good jobs and economic opportunities
Social stability
Socio-Cultural Environment
Quality education for their children
Fresh uni-graduate
Good jobs and economic opportunities
support from home
Retired Senior Citizen
Quality healthcare system
Quality transport system
Foreign Expat looking for business opportunities
Good business empire expansion and potential
low corruption rates/ crimerates
Middle-school student
Education system
Educations
safety concerns
Chapter 6: What Are the Experiences and Effects of Living in a Diverse Society?
Immigration has led to a Diverse population in Singapore
Diverse Society :arrow_forward: more opportunities for cultural exchanges between residents and non-resident a of Singapore
Positive Interactions
Exchange and Appreciation
While common spaces provides the time and space for interactions, the attitude towards interaction is important as well.
The attitude of openness (individuals) allows people to respect and appreciate diversity which facilitates meaningful exchanges.
Culture
Cultural exchanges can create distinct experiences because of our diversity in nationality, race and ethnicity, religion and Socio-Economic Status
Our Diverse society provides people with many opportunities to interact and learn from those who hail from different countries and cultures.
This can result in fusion between local cultures and foreign ideas.
Food is one prominent area that shows the fusion of culture. The annual Singapore Food Festival boasts a culinary experience that involves food collaborations among Chefs.
Chefs such as Chef Willin Low specialise in fusion food; he created fusion food between Singapore and modern European dining. Examples of dishes include Laksa pesto linguine.
This will lead to Singapore and Foreigners/ Immigrants developing a mutual understanding and creating a more harmonious Singapore
Exchange of Skills and Knowledge
The biomedical research council (BMRC) actively supports and funds scientific collaboration between foreign experts and Singaporean Scientists; one positive outcome was the discovery of the H1N1 Flu Vaccine
The transfer of Skills and Knowledge can happen when people of Diverse backgrounds come together to study and work.
Exchange of Skills and Knowledge :arrow_right: level up competentcies of local companies and workers
Development of country/ development of people :arrow_right: boosts economy
Negative Interactions
Challenges
Tensions
Stereotypes and Prejudices
Stereotypes are belief held by one social group
about another social group.
Some of these stereotypes can be negative and are known as prejudices, which are negative conclusions about people.
Prejudice can arise from misconceptions linked to nationality, race and ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status.
In 2010, a pastor of a large Christian church was questioned by the Internal Security Department (ISD) for contentious remarks about Buddhism made in a video of a sermon. It spread quickly and created a huge uproar on the Internet. Despite a public apology made specifically to Buddhist leaders, inter-religious harmony in multicultural Singapore was shaken by the incident.
In February 2012, there was an incident involving a university student from China who referred to Singaporeans as “dogs”, leading to much debate on social media about prejudices on various nationalities. This illustrates the potential for prejudices and misconceptions to grow via cyberspace
Prejudice is dangerous and can create an environment where discrimination can happen more often.
This would then harm relationships in the country/threatens social fabric of the country → DISHARMONY
Competition for resources
With the influx of foreigners, Singaporeans have expressed concerns over issues such as employment, housing, transportation and rise in prices of goods and services.
Some Singaporeans believe that the influx of foreign workers has resulted in lower wages for Singaporeans with lower skills because foreign workers are willing to work for much lower salaries, for example, by foreign workers in the construction sector.
Recognising these concerns, the government has tightened the immigration framework and put in place more stringent foreign workforce controls to reduce the inflow of foreign manpower into Singapore.
Concerns over standard of Living
Another concern that affected Singaporeans was in the areas of living spaces.
There were concerns about public transport becoming more crowded, how beds were not available for patients who needed to be admitted to the hospital, and rising housing costs.
The government identified needs in terms of quality urban spaces, convenient access to amenities, integrated transport modes and services.
Singapore continues to need high-skilled foreign manpower to add value to Singapore’s economy. These are individuals who can bring in skills, knowledge and expertise to fields of academia, management and technology.
Foreign entrepreneurs who set up firms here also add value as they hire local Singaporeans.
Concerns over social mobility
As income gaps between the lower and higher income groups have increased over the years in Singapore, this has led to many Singaporeans feeling that social mobility is being limited.
One issue that could be affecting the income gap would be outsourcing issues.
Lower skilled Singaporeans have found it difficult to get jobs in Singapore because jobs that require such skills have moved to other countries in the region, which offer lower labor costs.
Concerns over standard of living and social mobility could lead to prejudice/discrimination/resentment against foreigners.
This threatens the social fabric of the country → makes Singapore less attractive to foreigners → affects the development of the country
What has the government done?
Re-training and the learning of new skills
This enables Singaporeans of a lower income group to stay relevant to economic demands → improve their social mobility.
This can also be done through upholding the principle of meritocracy.
Education
Meritocracy allows all students regardless of socio-economic status an opportunity to achieve their best and excel at what they are good at.
These opportunities are critical to ensure that Singaporeans are not denied opportunities to progress due to their financial circumstances.
Interactions in a Diverse Society?
Why?
Provide a platform for friendships among different races to be forges
Create opportunities to understand practices and cultures of different races and ethnic groups in Singapore
So What?
Promotes more social interaction, collaboration and a stronger national identity
More Understanding and Appreciation for others
Reduces misconceptions/ misunderstandings
Positive Relations
Harmony/ Social Stability in a Diverse society
Common Experiences
Shared Identity
:arrow_down: tensions/ areas of differences :arrow_right: create more communities
Common Space
Refers to a physical space, shared values and common experiences that build our national identity
Gov and NGOs create and provide Common Space to being people together to interact
Provides opportunities for people of different nationalities. races and ethnicity, religions, and Socio-economic status to come together to work, play, live together and have common experiences.
Void Decks
Recreational Centres/ Community Centres
Common Corridors
IRCC
Through inter-faith and inter-ethnic themed activities such as heritage trails, talks and dialogues, and various ethnic and religious celebrations, the IRCCs help deepen people's understanding of the various faiths, beliefs and practices in Singapore.
OnePeople.sg
Since 1997, OnePeople.sg has been spearheading programmes and initiatives to foster interactions and friendships among different ethnic communities. AN example is CampTeen, a Youth racial harmony ambassadors programme where youth volunteers dedicated to the cause of promoting harmony bring youths from all races together to participate in bonding activities.
People's Association
The PA is a statutory board established on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the government and the people. The PA creates common space by offering a wide range of community programmes and volunteering opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life.
Chapter 7:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1phmVhswRNhZHHve83KSvxQdZ450As15qMVe8G2Q4_EQ/edit