NON-PHYSICAL STATE VIOLENCE: THE CASE OF SINGLE MOTHERS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study how single mothers in Singapore experience the non-physical violence perpetrated by the state through its attitude towards single mother families and establishment of family-oriented policies. Single mothers in Singapore are one of the most disadvantaged subgroups within the ‘single parent’ community, and this research shows how this is a consequence of the state enacting structural, epistemic and symbolic violence upon this group. The rules of family-oriented policies such as Baby Bonus Scheme and maternity and childcare leaves in relation to single mothers, as well as bureaucratic tools such as application forms, and state encouraged rhetoric – all serve to make single mothers feel like second-class citizens. The results also show mothers to feel a sense of ‘otherness’ in Singapore, as well as inferior to married mothers.