It's not every day that findings from a survey make you wonder if you'd rather be alone than consider the possibility of marriage or starting a family.
By the time I'm writing this, the infamous Ipsos survey would have made its rounds online. The results, released in March this year, stated that 62 per cent of Singaporeans (68 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women) feel that things have gone far enough when it comes to giving women equal rights with men in Singapore. Furthermore, 58 per cent of Singaporeans agree that men are being expected to do too much to support equality.
This is not the first controversial poll that Ipsos has released. Last International Women's Day, the international market research firm revealed that one in three men think feminism does more harm than good in a global survey spanning 30 nations, including Singapore, Australia, UK, and the US.
These figures reveal what we have already known for decades: Patriarchy is still deeply rooted in many cultures and countries, and it's a system that's held by both men and women. Just take the outrage that the Barbie movie is continuing to stir among both genders for its unapologetic feminist messaging (Shakira, we're looking at you).
Returning to why I might be better off without a plus one: As a feminist myself, I can't fathom being in a partnership where feminism becomes the proverbial elephant in the room. I want to be able to discuss values that I hold dear in a safe space, with a partner I love and trust. And if a whopping 68 per cent of Singapore men think of feminism as a dirty word, then what are the chances of meeting another single who doesn't?
Aside from the dearth of Singapore men who identify as feminists, there is no doubt that much has been debated about how we can improve women's equality from an institutional level.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Her World Singapore.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 2024 de Her World Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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TREASURE ISLAND
When plans to demolish the Merlion Tower on Sentosa were announced in 2019, some Singaporeans were sad to see one of the island's most iconic attractions go. After all, the quirky creature – with the head of a lion and the body of a fish – had been a significant part of their memories of Sentosa.The 37m-tall, 12-storey structure, completed in 1996 and designed by Australian sculptor James Martin, was a focal point for laser light shows and projections that transformed its ivory facade into a vibrant display of colours.The Merlion Tower was a popular attraction for families. Singaporean couple Anand and Vrunda Patel would often take their children there for outings. Vrunda, now 50, fondly recalls climbing the structure and admiring the views of Sentosa from the Merlion's mouth. “Outside the Merlion, there was a beautiful step garden with flowing water. I used to love walking there,” she shares.Years later, the statue, covered in dirt and grime, required a refresh. The demolition was not only part of a larger vision to connect Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in the north to the three beaches (Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso) on the island's south, it was also the start of a massive rebranding project to transform Sentosa from a recreational family destination to a premier lifestyle attraction.Today, Sentosa Sensoryscape stands in its place. Set within a lush landscape, the 30,000 sqm attraction features a 350m-long connector that leads visitors to six sensory gardens – where they can explore the gardens’ massive vessel-like sculptures, observe the various flora and fauna inhabiting the space, and interact with Instagrammable light displays through an augmented reality app after nightfall.“To attract younger visitors, our additional focus is on creating more authentic and immersive experiences, recognising that this demographic seeks deeper, more engaging interactions with the places they visit,” says Thien Kwee Eng, CEO, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).Just as Sensoryscape is designed to create an otherworldly atmosphere after dark, the Sentosa Night Mode campaign, launched in August, aims to introduce the island as a day-to-night destination for both locals and tourists, who would typically only make day trips to Sentosa. In addition to more nightlife events – such as the recent Waterbomb Festival, which saw about 10,000 revellers partying to a live K-pop line-up – the initiative includes extended operating hours at key attractions, along with street performances and dining promotions.It’s a move that has boosted visitorship to the island, with total numbers reaching 16 million this year.“This is a 20 per cent increase in the number of visitors as compared to the same period last year,” reveals Kwee Eng.
TAKING THE LEAP
It’s 10 am on a Monday, and Gan Guoyi, 40, walks into Jigger & Pony with a set of dry-cleaned clothes – a picture of calm amid the aftermath of last night’s chaos. The Singapore bar recently secured a spot in the Top 5 of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, announced in Madrid on Oct 23. To celebrate, she threw a three-night promotion from Nov 10, where customers enjoyed five premium cocktails for just $5 each at select bars like Gibson, Live Twice, Sugarhall, Como Pony Jakarta, and Jigger & Pony.Naturally, the event was a hit, and Guoyi, who was manning the guest list at Sugarhall, only managed a few hours of sleep the night before. Still, she arrives promptly to our photo shoot without complaints.
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