A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children
Why would women in a post-modern society like Singapore continue to desire for children in the face of numerous constraints in their living environment (e.g. overpopulation, high living expenses)? This paper analyses the attitudes of women towards value of children using qualitative interviews with...
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| Format: | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| Language: | English |
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2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55797 |
| _version_ | 1826110763454955520 |
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| author | Nurul Syazwani Akhbar |
| author2 | Sun Hsiao-Li Shirley |
| author_facet | Sun Hsiao-Li Shirley Nurul Syazwani Akhbar |
| author_sort | Nurul Syazwani Akhbar |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Why would women in a post-modern society like Singapore continue to desire for children in the face of numerous constraints in their living environment (e.g. overpopulation, high living expenses)? This paper analyses the attitudes of women towards value of children using qualitative interviews with 14 graduates that comprise of an equal number of Chinese and Malays. The findings conclude that women in Singapore want children more for psychological and emotional needs and less for economic needs; hence this confirms with the previous studies (Hoffman and Hoffman 1973; Zelizer 1985). This paper also departs from the Value of Children study conducted in Singapore in the 1970s. The interview data suggests that there are racial differences towards childbearing and related matters. The Malay respondents indicate an earlier age of marriage than the Chinese, and they also have a preference for larger families. Finally, the role of the extended family in childrearing is stronger in the Malay culture than in the Chinese culture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T02:39:29Z |
| format | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| id | ntu-10356/55797 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T02:39:29Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/557972019-12-10T10:47:52Z A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children Nurul Syazwani Akhbar Sun Hsiao-Li Shirley School of Humanities and Social Sciences DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women Why would women in a post-modern society like Singapore continue to desire for children in the face of numerous constraints in their living environment (e.g. overpopulation, high living expenses)? This paper analyses the attitudes of women towards value of children using qualitative interviews with 14 graduates that comprise of an equal number of Chinese and Malays. The findings conclude that women in Singapore want children more for psychological and emotional needs and less for economic needs; hence this confirms with the previous studies (Hoffman and Hoffman 1973; Zelizer 1985). This paper also departs from the Value of Children study conducted in Singapore in the 1970s. The interview data suggests that there are racial differences towards childbearing and related matters. The Malay respondents indicate an earlier age of marriage than the Chinese, and they also have a preference for larger families. Finally, the role of the extended family in childrearing is stronger in the Malay culture than in the Chinese culture. Bachelor of Arts 2014-03-31T06:50:23Z 2014-03-31T06:50:23Z 2014 2014 Final Year Project (FYP) http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55797 en Nanyang Technological University 33 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women Nurul Syazwani Akhbar A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| title | A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| title_full | A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| title_fullStr | A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| title_full_unstemmed | A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| title_short | A revival for Singapore's fertility rates? Changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| title_sort | revival for singapore s fertility rates changing perceptions towards the value of children |
| topic | DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55797 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nurulsyazwaniakhbar arevivalforsingaporesfertilityrateschangingperceptionstowardsthevalueofchildren AT nurulsyazwaniakhbar revivalforsingaporesfertilityrateschangingperceptionstowardsthevalueofchildren |