WOMEN IN A PATRIARCHY : THE SINGAPORE CASE

Abstract

This Academic Exercise proposes to look at how the government and successful women cope with the changing role of women with a patriarchal society. Singapore's political system has been described in various ways paternalistic, socialist democratic and corporatist. In this exercise, however, I intend to look at Singapore as a patriarchy i.e. a system in which males dominate all the avenues of power. It is this wider public and political dimension of patriarchy which is examined in this study. Chapter One discusses the nature of patriarchy i.e. it highlights the general characteristics of patriarchy, showing that male dominance can take on a wider political context. Three different types of patriarchy are outlined: traditional patriarchy, discriminatory patriarchy and non-discriminatory patriarchy. In Chapter Two, Singapore is shown to be a particular type of patriarchy. It discusses how patriarchy is manifested in the traditional culture, education system, political arena, political ideology, economy and advertising. Chapter Three examines the dilemma the government faces as the effects of education and politicization clash with patriarchal values. A survey of the recent government policies illustrates how the government is dealing with the problem of worn n in a patriarchy. For the purpose of this exercise, interviews were conducted with 'successful' women in Singapore. Chapter Four deals with the reactions of these women to the patriarchal society. It brings to light the underlying contradictions inherent in many of the women's interview responses. The group response is also examined in a section on Women's Groups in Singapore. Chapter Five illustrates how the tensions documented in Chapters Three and Four have given rise to an increased awareness of the problems women face in a patriarchal society. This response to patriarchy is construed as a type of feminism. Thus, the development of feminism in three different contexts: America, the Third World and Singapore are examined. This study is only a narrow one focusing on the problems particular stratum of women in a patriarchal society. It is that this study may generate further research on how women are with the changes in our society today.