AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYMENT IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF LOWER-MIDDLE INCOME VIETNAMESE TRANSNATIONAL BRIDES IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

While work has been regarded as important for its various psychological, social and financial benefits, there are still groups in Singapore facing employment difficulties. Within the city-state, foreign spouses from transnational marriages have been anecdotally identified as a notable population experiencing challenges in securing quality employment. However, there is a current lack of research surrounding the employment of transnational spouses. This study thus seeks to investigate foreign brides’ employment as a phenomenon. Specifically, by utilising Bourdieu’s forms of capital theory and Alderfer’s needs model, this thesis examines how employment as a multifaceted resource is mobilised by transnational brides in Singapore to meet their various felt and expressed needs. Adopting a qualitative approach, the study draws themes from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with seven lower-middle income, Vietnamese transnational brides, in their early adulthood, who are working in Singapore. Through thematic analysis, this thesis revealed employment to be an important resource for the respondents. Specifically, the findings highlighted respondents to be resilient agents who were able to utilise the various capitals gained from employment to meet their needs amidst socio-cultural and institutional barriers. However, employment was not a panacea within the study as it also had the potential to frustrate respondents’ needs. This study’s findings thus not only fills a gap in extant research but also has implications for various state, charity and private actors in advocating for better quality employment and services for transnational brides in Singapore.