Since Singapore is such a diverse country, there are many different practices throughout the area. Greetings are something that varies in Singapore. If shaking hands with a man, a woman should offer her had first. This is the opposite of what I would have expected. I feel as though in countries where men and women aren’t equal the man is normally superior. This makes me think that if someone is meant to offer their hand first it should be the man. I would have thought that it would be disrespectful for a woman to offer her hand first. If you are Muslim in Singapore you would follow the traditions of not touching a woman in public. This includes shaking her hand. Ethnic Chinese men will lightly grasp each other’s hands while shaking. I was very interested in the many different ways that one country could greet each other. I have always grown up shaking anyone’s hand without thinking about gender, age, or who reached their hand out first.
The traditional roles of women in Singapore were household duties. Women would stay at home all day and tend to her family’s needs. Women would do basic chores like laundry, cleaning, and cooking meals. Family has always been a very large part of Singapore’s culture. Since family is so important I was worried that women working and changing their roles would affect the family life and culture of Singapore. It makes me happy to know that the roles have changed a little and women are able and encouraged to join the work force even if the culture was effected slightly.
Now women are more educated and able to participate in more activities. Women are now able to succeed in working jobs that they used to not do. Women are now encouraged to work for a living and participate in the government issues. Women are even able to hold positions in the government, such as Mdm Halimah Yacob who I mentioned earlier. Women now face a difficult task. “Women managers are expected to demonstrate typical masculine traits in their jobs, at the same time maintaining their femininity” (Campbell, 1999). I found this to be one of the most powerful sentences from this website. Now that women are taking on more responsibility there is more pressure on them. They need to stay up to the standards of the man while remaining the woman that they are. I feel as though the increase in the role of women in the culture of Singapore has been great for the country. Women are helping shape Singapore and creating a different culture for everyone there.
Campbell, K. (n.d.). 1999 - Issue 1 Book Review - Jahan: Research and Practice in Human Resource Management. Research and Practice in Human Resource Management. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://rphrm.curtin.edu.au/1999/issue1/jahan.html
Singapore - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette | global-etiquette | resources. (n.d.). The Translation Agency for a complete Professional Translation Service. Retrieved October 2, 2013, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/singapore.html
Speaker of Parliament | Parliament Of Singapore. (n.d.). Home | Parliament Of Singapore. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://www.parliament.gov.sg/speaker-parliament