Gender Equality in Singapore

December 1, 2021
Blog
For the past few decades, different human rights-based organizations, for example, the UN, have increased their campaign towards promoting gender equality across the globe. Multiple movements, including Me-Too, He-For-She, among others, have been established to help suppress the prevalent gender inequality globally, by creating awareness and condemning negative social undertakings. Gender equality, describes an environment where individuals are free to develop, physically, emotionally, psychologically, among other aspects, irrespective of their gender.
 
 
Despite the existing perception that gender equality is a women-based initiative, benefits associated with equality are evident in both social and global development. Among such benefits is increased peace in society. Gender inequality is linked to a wide range of peace-disrupting undertakings, for example, gender violence, poverty, sexual assault, among others. Also, gender equality promotes inter-gender respect, attracting harmonious relationships, thus reducing disrespect-related undertakings, such as rape and intimate partner-based sexual assault.
 
 
Economic prosperity is another benefit associated with gender equality. It works to reduce discrimination in the workplace, thus eliminate a wide range of barriers that limit women’s participation in income-generating undertakings. Typically, a significant percentage of women spend most of their time doing unpaid works, for example, children and elderly care. This is the primary factor behind the prevailing income inequality across the globe and also a high rate of women’s dependency on men’s provision. Gender Equality, however, will facilitate shared roles, allowing both men and women to participate in income-generating activities, thus reducing the dependency aspect. This will not only boost the country’s economic prosperity but will also lead to healthy relationships, implicating positively on both the couple’s lives and even children’s outcomes.
 
 
Similar to other countries, gender equality is central to Singapore’s economic development. Currently, Singapore is among countries suffering from gender inequality-related challenges, especially in the economic sector. For example, Singapore women pocket approximately 20% less in salary compared to men despite possessing similar qualifications. The income gap is also linked to unpaid leaves, for example, maternity and paternity leaves, which only add up to 20 weeks. This is compared to other more gender-equal countries, such as Finland, where women enjoy approximately 161 paid leaves (Romero). 
 
 
Sadly, Singapore overlooks women’s essentiality, thus reducing them to home-based caregivers. Removing gender-based barriers in the workplace is vital to attracting women-related innovation and crucial in mitigating different economic challenges. Despite the challenges, Singapore has recorded substantial success in attaining gender equality. An example is the increment in women’s literacy since the 1900s, which currently stands at 93.8% (UN. Org). Also, Singapore has seen women’s participation in the workforce rise from 30% in the 1970s to 56.5% by 2010 (UN. Org).
 
 
In conclusion, gender equality is crucial for global development. It helps reduce the women’s dependency level by raising their participation in income-generating activities, thus reducing the associated gender-based income gap. Further, promoting gender equality will help in global economic development. Gender equality is, therefore, critical in attaining the country’s development agendas, both in Singapore and also across the globe.
 

 

 

 

Works Cited
 

“Gender Equality.” International Labor Organization. (n.d)
Available from https://www.ilo.org/moscow/areas-of-work/gender-equality/lang–en/index.htm. Accessed on 13 April 2020. Bot, Manon.

“What does Gender Equality Means to you?” Polyglot. (2018).
Available from https://www.thepolyglotgroup.com/news/what-does-gender-equality-mean-to-you-pressforprogress/. Accessed on 13 April 2020.
Howard, Jessica.


“5 Ways Gender Equality Benefits Everyone.” Canadian Women Foundation. (2018).
Available from https://canadianwomen.org/blog/5-ways-gender-equality-benefits-everyone/. Accessed on 13 April 2020. Romero, Anna, Maria.


“Grace FU: Singapore Must Aim for Gender-equality.” Theindipendent.sg. (2019).
Available from http://theindependent.sg/grace-fu-singapore-must-aim-for-gender-equality/. Accessed on 13 April 2020. UN. Org.


“Singapore Says Gender Equality Central to Country’s Promising Social-Economic Growth, as Delegation Reports on Implementation of Women’s Convention.” United Nations. (2011).
Available from https://www.un.org/press/en/2011/wom1875.doc.htm. Accessed on 13 April 2020.