REACH 326 - What are your views on the progress of Singapore women's development so far? How can we better support women at workplaces, and at home?

(SK)

09 Mar 2022 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[9:38 am, 09/03/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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Megan 😊

[9:57 am, 09/03/2022] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

Several recommendations including enshrining fairness at the workplace, support for caregivers, as well as strengthening protection for victims of sexual offences and family violence will be part of a White Paper on women's issues that will be "presented soon", said Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo on Tuesday (Mar 8). She went on to highlight three recommendations in the White Paper that were "particularly responsive to what women have told us last year".

💬 What are your views on the progress of Singapore women's development so far? How can we better support women at workplaces, and at home?

The White Paper was first set forth by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the closing session of Conversations on Singapore Women's Development in September last year, where he outlined three broad areas in which Government policies and programmes can help level the playing field for women. 

📌 More equal workplace opportunities

The first is enshrining fairness in the workplace, whether it is in terms of recruitment, advancement or how harassment is being dealt with, Mrs Teo said. For example, results from a study conducted by women's rights group Association of Women for Action and Research last year showed that women who experience sexual harassment at work often go through extended periods of low work productivity and have lower job satisfaction due to strained relationships with colleagues.

📌 More caregiver support

The second recommendation is enhancing support for home-based caregiving. "The majority of caregivers are still women, and this is absolutely necessary because families that have to deal with frail seniors for the long term need better support and more relief," said Mrs Teo.

📌 Increased protection for women, both physically and online.

The third recommendation will address violence against women, sexual offences, and family violence. "It would be in strengthening protection for victims of sexual offences and violence and making it absolutely clear that there is no place for such things in Singapore, and women should really not have to bear with it," she said.

👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/fairness-at-workplace-caregiver-support-among-recommendations-in-white-paper-on-womens-issues

👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/concrete-proposals-to-tackle-womens-issues-to-be-presented-in-early-2022-pm-lee

👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/infectious-disease-expert-leo-yee-sin-and-music-icon-nona-asiah-among-seven-women-to-join-singapore-womens-hall-of-fame

👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/smes-partner-ntuc-to-fight-workplace-gender-bias-and-harassment

👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/women-who-take-on-caregiving-duties-need-better-financial-and-emotional-support-pm-lee

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[9:59 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: Why is it the only in extreme circumstances that Foreign Domestic Helpers can be male? Does that send the wrong message that a woman's place is in the home?

[9:59 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: Or rather, domestic work should be done by women?

[10:00 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: I'm delighted to see a focus on improvement for women in the workplace, protection against abuse, and more caregiver support. These are good initiatives.

[10:02 am, 09/03/2022] +Caleb: +1

[10:02 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: Is it illegal to ask a woman about her family life during an interview, for example - when does she plan on having a baby...?

[10:04 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: Perhaps some marketing, education and training for men on how to contribute more towards domestic chores could be useful?

[10:05 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: As a man, I know I could do better and I would like my son to grow up being more aware and helpful around the house.

[10:05 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: Speaking for myself of course, I'm sure many men do a better job than me!

[10:06 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: More of this please! Our history has been dominated around the world by stories about male achievements.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/infectious-disease-expert-leo-yee-sin-and-music-icon-nona-asiah-among-seven-women-to-join-singapore-womens-hall-of-fame

[10:08 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: This makes sense.... listening to what women want, need and expect. "It's also important to recognise that in putting together the White Paper, what matters most is what our women want, and what they tell us is important in their lives," she said.

[10:08 am, 09/03/2022] +BL: I'll be quiet now 😁

[10:59 am, 09/03/2022] +REACHDear Contributors,

The chat is now open! We want to HEAR MORE from you!

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!

Megan 😊

[0:54 pm, 09/03/2022] +Anthony: Do I given more salary or scheme from my employer or from MOH or G ,

The answer is definelly No

So call Caregiver support means the background for the family must be fragile or complicated one 

Nice to hear ,hard to given support to Caregiver

No volunteering support from transport to daliy neccecsties for those physical disable &  mental issue

I suggest the scheme doesn't look like hard to Get scheme 等久就有了

[1:00 pm, 09/03/2022] +Rama: Agree

[1:06 pm, 09/03/2022] +Smiley face: https://youtu.be/vDNAzq4qgiM

[1:27 pm, 09/03/2022] +Anthony: Hospital, Social Service Office should have more transportation & driver & employ worker who help to buy neccecsties for those unfortunate ones , Given food Given Access at all corner should be fundamental not just simply said giving help to Care-giver sounds not nice at all

If Government willing to do from top to toe plan,

It would be 一条龙，service & 天下太平

[1:29 pm, 09/03/2022] +Anthony: In Hokkien call, Shui Shui 

Doing it (  Beautifully )

[1:29 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: Slight aside...  Good to see VTL ending so we can open up, but people won't want to come and wear masks outside. When will we see that come to an end?

[2:05 pm, 09/03/2022] +Rama: 🤷‍♂️

[2:13 pm, 09/03/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. My experience with women in the workforce - is that women are in a superior position and predominantly dominate the middle and senior hierarachy of management.

2. My 1st job lasted me for 12 years (which I planned to retire with) - was recruited by a good lady boss.

3. However my 1st job ended by another lady boss who stay for barely less than 1 year.

4. In my 2nd job that I lasted for 8 years (which I also hope to retire with), another lady boss ended my 2nd career who lasted less than 1 year.

5. So how to support, comment and feedback on today's topic - about giving more protection to women in the workforce when my career experience demonstrate otherwise?

[2:13 pm, 09/03/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. However I must say I do enjoy working with women colleagues and good women bosses.

2. I enjoy the carmaderie with my women colleagues like my male collaegues - in many projects.

3. I also have good female bosses and good male bosses.

4. Throughout my career experiences, I did not see women bosses, peer colleagues or lower level staff - in a disadvantage position or being harass or bullied at the workplace.

Hence I am unable to provide feedback, comment or support more protection for the womem in the workplace - as my experience suggest otherwise.

5. However my wife told me that in private sectors, this is not the case.

Women are often harass. Maybe this topic is more relevant to women in the private sectors in which I did not come across.

[3:24 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: I think we need to be careful not to set an agenda based on 1 or 2 personal experiences. I've had good male and good female bosses, as well as bad male and bad female bosses. The point isn't to base this on our own subjective experience, where we ourselves are at mercy of our own Gender Biases.

[3:26 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: What do you feel is demonstrated by their resignations in the context of this topic?  I wasn't clear what you meant about your 'career experience demonstrating otherwise'

[3:50 pm, 09/03/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I will support something that I feel is relevant in my context.

I cannot be supporting something that it does not happen - in this case woman inequality - which my previous organisation don't practice

[3:52 pm, 09/03/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Also I don't set agenda - this topic is set by REACH.

I merely say it does not apply to what I experience and I can't be commenting or supporting this topic that is contrary to what I experience.

[3:55 pm, 09/03/2022] ☸️  Danny 心:

And contrary to what you say about gender bias - I respect women and I have good relationship with my wife and my ex-colleagues.

Gender bias is not in my dictionary.

I treat everyone equally and with respect.

[3:55 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: I see, and understand your point

[3:57 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: It's fair to say, and there is a lot of evidence that we all hold unconscious bias. The point is that we are not aware of it. It's worth understanding what that means and how to combat it. https://diversity.ucsf.edu/programs-resources/training/unconscious-bias-training#item-89

[4:04 pm, 09/03/2022] +Noraini: Why a person behave such & such is based on one's enneagram.  The gender's perspective is another angle when female make-up 9heart & 1 brain vs male 1 heart & 9 brain

[4:21 pm, 09/03/2022] +Smiley face: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/gender-gap-equality-women-parity-countries/

[4:49 pm, 09/03/2022] +jimmy chew: Were I worked in an MNC I don't sense any gender bias. The best will take the job. The bad ones don't last.

[4:51 pm, 09/03/2022] +jimmy chewI think it depends on the industry. Eg in construction is there gender bias? I think there is men can carry More. In healthcare are there gender bias I think so. Female nurses can serve all patients.

[5:09 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: Worth taking 5 minutes to see: https://www.aauw.org/resources/article/iat/

[5:09 pm, 09/03/2022]BL Gender Bias quiz!

[5:11 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: And general unconscious bias in the workplace. Can you spot it?  https://stem4all.eurasia.undp.org/test-yourself/can-you-recognize-unconscious-gender-bias-in-the-workplace

[5:14 pm, 09/03/2022] +BLNot sure if you are observing this,or think it yourself. Both are good examples of unconscious bias in the workplace. A construction worker might get hired based on how much they can carry. They is nothing to do with their gender.

[5:30 pm, 09/03/2022]BLInteresting perspective on Strength: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/11/the-weaker-sex-science-that-shows-women-are-stronger-than-men

[5:30 pm, 09/03/2022 jimmy chew Agree with you. A lady can carry as much as a man but these are exceptions. The argument is that generally the we're restricted by human body. In general a woman would not have as much strength as a man, nor a man has much care and gentleness as a women.

[5:31 pm, 09/03/2022] +jimmy chewAll the marathon runners best times are held by women. Speed is by man.

[5:32 pm, 09/03/2022] BLYes I think that is true. The point here though is we should not make decisions based on that assumption. There should be equal opportunity for men and women.

[5:32 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: Unconscious Bias means that Managers may be making decisions about men and women's suitability that is detrimental to women, without realising it.

[5:33 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: Such as - she will have a baby, she looks after the family can't work late, she is not strong enough to handle the banter, etc

[5:34 pm, 09/03/2022] BL: Genetically, Men can be stronger than women, but plenty of men are not.

[5:36 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: Nearly 10% of US Marines are women. Clearly, women can be Marines. Doesn't mean all women can be, just as not all men can be. But enough are and that shows they can. The barriers for women should be the same as for men.

[5:39 pm, 09/03/2022] +BLSingapore is quite a conservative nation, for many reasons. It's welcoming to see our senior politicians address this problem. We have many stairs to climb, including how we treat domestic workers and the LGBTQ community. However, Gender Equality is very important, so its encouraging to see this on the agenda.

[5:39 pm, 09/03/2022] +BL: Nice article here about Female US Marines: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/breaking-barrier-women-become-us-marines-after-surviving-crucible-2021-04-26/

[6:50 pm, 09/03/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 10 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan

[6:56 pm, 09/03/2022] +Smiley face: 9 March, 2022

To: Our Distinguished Leaders, All Our Honorables, Ladies & Gentlemen 

"A Level Playing World, Please (纸上谈兵) ?" 

"Don't take women for granted or as wallpapers or else...! "

- - anonymous 

So What? 

A happy belated International Women's Day! 

1) Women are the "hidden hero" of a family unit.

2) Women are as well educated and as intelligent/capable/talented as men. What's the economics lifespan of women and men? 

3) Women have two extra chores,  child bearing and child bearing years .

4) Women regardless of working or home caregiver, be given a tax break as a way of appreciation/recognition to all women. 

5) Big Corporations and Public listed ones senior positions and guildlines for board membership with a 30% or more women in it. Gender disparity in terms of Compensation? 

6) To identify, nurture and encourage capable women to take up leadership or management roles. Tax break to tie into this 'equal opportunity' scheme. 

7) How societies MINDSET towards a LEVEL UP playing field for women? It is not me versus you or I'm stronger than you! Is societies ready, willing and to accept these equitable adjustments? 

8) How about Public offices both political and civil societies?  Will it be a good posture for all to adapt/transit towards gender equality?  A woman Deputy PM? 

9) Its about the BEST person for the job/role. It is no longer relevant that solid muscle and huge stamina holds the job (Exception for rough & tough jobs) !  

10) Collectively to stop hiring bias, to cancel gender discrimination, to give the disabled more chances? 

So How? 

Without hesitation, now is the best time to reset these gender preference/role issues. Let's balanced the gender scale and implement new rules, dares to change/challenge while others still pending, that's uniquely Singapore! We all know that 'it takes TWO hands to clap!' So important, that's becoming equitable and that's visible to all ! 

Additionals:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/gender-gap-equality-women-parity-countries/

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2008/08/25/men-or-women-whos-the-better-leader/

                 - - END - -

[7:00 pm, 09/03/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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