Unequal job opportunities for women

When someone tells you that women are trailing behind man in undertaking managerial posts, what will be the first thing that comes to your mind? If you agree to that question, you are not alone. Despite the booming economy and tight labour market in Singapore, female are still viewed as a manpower liability thus reducing their job opportunities and pay as compared to men.

I chanced upon an article "Job opportunities, pay not the same for women" (Straits Times, March 3, 2007 by Serene Goh ).

This article depicted how female are still trailing behind men in having equal opportunities and pay in Singapore and compared it with the situation in other countries. In this article, the aim of the writer is to raise awareness and understanding of the discrimination faced by the majority of the women in their career.

After reading the article, it is disappointing on how Singapore has fared in a recent World Economic Forum report. Statistics from the report showed that Singapore ranked a miserable 65 out of 115 in instilling gender equality despite women being better educated nowadays.

I am aware that women have lesser opportunities than men in jobs however upon reading the article, I am appalled by the extend and the severity that it is happening. The allegation made by Professor Alan Manning that women continue choosing family over career is entirely false and it is bias and unfair to make such judgmental comments about them.

I understand that when a women is pregnant or is having maternity leave, they would not be able to show up for work and for some of them, they would quit their job to care for their children. Nonetheless, many will still continue working after their maternity leave is over. Hence it is a unfair saying that they are incapable of working after pregnancy.

Also, one's preference on whether to be pregnant or not is strictly personal. We should not deprive capable women from job opportunities just because they have given birth. I personally feel that gender should not be one of the criteria in the allocation of job opportunities. It should solely be based on merit.

With better education, women are now more equipped and just like men, they are equally as capable and in some cases even better as based on a survey recently conducted. However, they would only be able to showcase their capability and contribute to society only if they are given the opportunity to enhance their ability.

By discriminating women and not grant them opportunities in which they deserve. What you did was shunning capable people the chance to showcase their ability and contribute even more in their job.

While I accept that everyone has their own view on why men still has more job opportunities, I feel that the writer has made a strong point that women are not treated fair enough and probably some of the false assumptions people relate women with.

Straits Times(S'poreans lack of social graces a social disgrace)

Even though I am a Singaporean, I actually agree that Singapore lack the social grace. I feel that the culture that we are brought up in has something to do with our attitude. As Singapore is very prosperous, the citizens nowadays are mostly well fed and dresses, some of them will have a selfish attitude and think only of themselves.

I recently experienced an act of social disgrace. I was on the escalator in the MRT station when some old lady just shoved passed me and shouted at me not to block her way in chinese. She really shocked me as how can an old lady be so impolite! She could just say"excuse me" and I would let her go pass.

I feel that we can learn a lot from the Japanese because they are really very gracious. They would even say hi to a person they do not know and this task is mission impossible for most Singaporean.

Hence I feel that if we adopt their culture, then will we be more socially gracious. However it would take a long time to kick off this old habit.