Margaret Thomas & Kanwaljit Soin 
WHY NOT?: THINKING ABOUT SINGAPORE’S TOMORROW [EPUB ebook] 
Thinking About Singapore’s Tomorrow

What is the society you want to see take shape in Singapore in the years ahead? How can we ensure it will be a society where there is gender equality, where every person can live the life they want? A diverse group of writers — women and men, teenagers and octogenarians, artists. academics, caregivers, journalists, doctors, lawyers, and many others — offer their thoughts about these questions and more, their vision of the ideal Singapore. Their essays will make you think, and you too may begin to say ’Why not?’.

Contents:

• Editors’ Note


• Foreword by Halimah Yacob


• Review. Rewind. Revise.:
  
  
  
  • Ordinary People Dream (Teo You Yenn)
  
  
  • Time to Sacrifice the Sacred Cows of Conventional Economics (Audrey Chin)
  
  
  • Transformative and Inclusive Boards: A Vision for the Future (Su-Yen Wong)
  
  
  • Women Leadership in Singapore Business, Politics, and the Community: The Next Bound (Lin Suling)
  
  
  • Want to Shift Mindsets? Put a Value to Household Work (Euston Quah & Tan Jun Rui)
  
  
  • In My Singapore Galaxy (Cheng Puay Koon)
  
  


• Regardless of Race, Language, or Religion:
  
  
  
  • The Maze and Minefield of CMIO Multiculturalism (Lai Ah Eng)
  
  
  • The Multiracial Society I Want to See in Singapore (Mysara Aljaru)
  
  
  • Is There Space for Faith-based Values in the Modern World? (Stefanie Yuen Thio)
  
  
  • The Promise of Islamic Feminism as Religion-based Advocacy for Gender Justice and Equality (Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib & Nurul Fadiah Johari)
  
  


• Learning to Chart their Own Paths:
  
  
  
  • A Future School Where Children Can Enjoy Learning (Kho Ee Moi)
  
  
  • Uncharted Paths (Danelle Tan)
  
  


• The Science of Inquiry:
  
  
  
  • We Need More Women in Scientific Research (Ding Jeak Ling)
  
  
  • Why I Want to be a Biomedical Researcher Rather than a Doctor (Shakti Vijayakumar)
  
  
  • From Being Inspired to Inspiring Girls in Science (Isabel Ho Si En)
  
  


• Body, Mind, and Globe: The Female Factor:
  
  
  
  • Women Hold the Key to the Success of Healthier SG (Jeremy Lim Fung Yen & Nurul Amanina binte Hussain)
  
  
  • The Gender Gap in Mental Health (Kamini Rajaratnam)
  
  
  • What Fuels Gender Inequality is What Fuels Climate Change (Woo Qiyun)
  
  


• The Ties that Bind:
  
  
  
  • The Future of Families in Singapore (Paulin Tay Straughan & Mindy Eiko Tadai)
  
  
  • Love in a Stash of Peanuts — Defying the Odds: The Selfless Journey of a Single Mother before the #Me Too Era (Ken Jalleh Jr)
  
  
  • Who is Free to Love? Queer(ing) Life in Singapore after The Repeal (Shobha Avadhani)
  
  
  • Outsiders Within: Female Migrants in Singapore (Shailey Hingorani)
  
  
  • A Grandmother’s Wish (Aline Wong)
  
  


• Where To #Me Too:
  
  
  
  • Gender Violence Will Not End if We Do Not Redefine Masculinity (Corinna Lim and Kelly Leow)
  
  
  • Gender, Sexuality, Masculinity: What Two Young Men Have to Say (Ho Ren Chun and Liu Ray Chun)
  
  
  • Teaching Children about the Birds and the Bees (Tan Joo Hymn)
  
  


• The Language of Change:
  
  
  
  • Brands, Language, and Gender in the Age of Technology (Linda Locke)
  
  
  • Censorship of the Letter (Matilda Gabrielpillai)
  
  
  • The Machine is Us (Nurul Jihadah Hussain & Nurul Amillin Hussain)
  
  
  • Woman. Artist. Citizen: Running with Her Dreams (Dana Lam)
  
  


• Ageing to Perfection:
  
  
  
  • Ageing in Place with Dignity: That is the Challenge before Us (Constance Singam)
  
  
  • An Older Woman’s Story (Mary Ann Tsao)
  
  
  • I am Caring for My Mother, But Who will Care for Me? (Patricia Ng)
  
  
  • Reimagining Care for the Elderly (Christopher Len)
  
  
  • When I’m Sixty-Four: A Love Letter to the Future (Emma Goh)
  
  
  • Aged to Imperfection? — Stop Worrying about Our Ageing Society: What We Need is an Age-integrated Longevity Society (Kanwaljit Soin and Margaret Thomas)
  
  


• A Bit More About This Book

Readership: General public with an interest in Singapore and its future. Readers with an interest in gender equality. Policymakers of small states like Singapore.

’This big book is about building a better future for women. Its authors represent the diversity they seek. Men, women, and ethnically and culturally diverse individuals cover themes that are wide-ranging and forward-looking. Academic, personal, lived experience, data-rich studies with policy recommendations — this is an essential resource for policy makers and for understanding women’s lives.’ – CHAN HENG CHEE Ambassador at Large and Chair, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

’Kanwaljit and Margaret have put together a collection of essays from some of Singapore’s most illustrious voices. With candid reflections and bold ideas, this anthology invites readers to imagine and advocate for a more inclusive, equitable Singapore.’ – BOO JUNFENGFilmmaker

’Just the list of authors would be enough of a reason to read this book: it represents the who’s who of Singapore civil society. But beyond name recognition, the topics which are discussed are crucial if we are indeed bothered about Singapore’s future. The book is as much a call for ordinary citizens as it is for the government to think deeply about issues which matter to us as a nation.’ – WALID JUMBLATT BIN ABDULLAHAssistant Professor, School of Social Sciences Nanyang Technological University

’It’s a blockbuster of thought-provoking essays that offers personal, frank, and fresh views on many issues. There is so much to learn from the book.’ – CHRISTINE SUCHEN LIM Award-winning writer and Cultural Medallion recipient

’Why Not? is a thought-provoking, reflective, and ultimately hopeful volume of essays by people from all walks of life. Thoughtfully edited by Kanwaljit Soin and Margaret Thomas, this book invites us to come together to envision a more inclusive, equitable, and caring Singapore. As citizens of a young nation, it is our responsibility to build a national culture and identity that we can all be proud of. Why Not? reminds us that an intersectional approach to nation-building is essential if we are to create a future in which our children will not just survive but thrive.’ – KISHORE MAHBUBANI Distinguished Fellow at Asia Research Institute and author of Living the Asian Century

’An energising read that showcases a mix of vital perspectives to an intriguing question — if our collective Singapore story were written with diversity in mind, what would change?’ – MICHELLE MARTIN Broadcaster

’An outstanding achievement — this collection of essays addresses crucial issues that must be actively confronted in working towards a better future for Singapore, among them gender equality, ageing, freedom to exercise choice, the right to dignity and respect; and brings together at the same time substantive works of scholarship, critical analysis, and personal reflection that are keenly informed and compellingly readable.’ – SHIRLEY CHEW Professor, English Programme, Nanyang Technological University

’Why Not? Thinking about Singapore’s Tomorrow is a book that everyone should make time to read. It will get you thinking about issues like why diversity at the workplace is so important, what it is like to age in Singapore, why there is a need to redefine masculinity, and whether we are doing enough to educate our children about consent. These are just some of the complex but crucial topics discussed by the very capable contributors. No words are minced, no difficult questions avoided. And WHY NOT? Lasting change starts with education, and education means opening your mind to new ideas and different ways of looking at things. This book will do precisely that.’ – SHARUL CHANNA Stand-up Comedian

’As Singapore looks forward to celebrating 60 years of independence in 2025, this volume brings together a diverse range of authors to reflect on the society they envisage for Singapore in the years ahead. From academic analysis to personal reflection, from youthful hopes to experienced contemplation, this volume will offer insights and ideas for anyone who cares about how Singapore society evolves.’ – LILY KONGPresident, Singapore Management University

’One of my biggest issues with Singapore and the Crazy Rich Asians phenomenon is the stubborn reinforcement of both the myth and the bubble. The myth is, we’re all obscenely wealthy. And the bubble is reserved exclusively for the obscenely wealthy minority who perpetuate the myth. This wonderful and vital new book — Why Not? — shatters both. In thinking about Singapore’s tomorrow, the writers ask the most challenging questions, like why not demand more from a patriarchy that still rules from the boardroom to the bedroom? Why not demand fairness for the single mother, the domestic helper, and the migrant worker? As the proud son of a single mother, I admire anyone who speaks up for those overlooked, neglected, or pushed to the margins of society. The authors do all of this and so much more, leaving the reader to ponder the most hopeful question: why not dream of a kinder, happier, empathetic Singapore? Why not indeed.’ – NEIL HUMPHREYS Author, Broadcaster, Journalist, Public Speaker

’Why Not? is a playful challenge. Each writer invites you to see a norm they believe is ’not working’ and proposes new norms that ’work’ better. You may feel provoked into disagreement or have new convictions evoked in you. May you read and find a gem here that nudges you towards working with someone to create your preferred future for Singapore.’ – SHIAO-YIN KUIK Executive Director, Common Ground Civic Centre & Consultancy

Key Features:

• Built on the theme of ’A vision of Singapore by Singaporeans’ with a perspective of gender equality


• Margaret Thomas and Kanwaljit Soin are founder member and founding member of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) respectively. They are prominent names in both the areas of women’s rights and gender equality. The writers in this book have been carefully curated by them for diversity and representation