A Tale of Two Sections: Lessons for Singapore From India’s Section 377 Repeal
BY ISAAC TAN In September 2018, the Indian Supreme Court made history by unanimously voting to repeal Section 377, which
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Population
Il/licit Intimacies: Why The State Regulates FDW’s Intimate Lives
In Singapore, foreign domestic workers (FDWs) on Work Permits are subject to various bio-political restrictions: namely, restrictions that govern who they can marry and whether they can be pregnant.
What explains these restrictions, and why is the state so invested in policing the private intimacies of foreign domestic workers? Poh Yong Han traces through parliamentary debates and newspaper articles to show how these restrictions are informed by a neoliberal philosophy that informs how we view citizenship, and unpacks its consequences.
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The Case For Incorporating Social Analysis Into Policy Design
Paul argues that policymakers need to move beyond numbers-driven, utilitarian logics of decision-making and incorporate a human-centered approach to policy-making. Drawing from Teo You Yenn’s seminal work on the need to understand issues like inequality as lived experiences rather than just statistical data, Paul considers the benefits of a social analysis approach and examines the ways in which it can be implemented in Singapore.
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Multi-Racial, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Sexuality
Who should take the step forward in the push for LGBTQ+ rights? Should leaders set the agenda, or should they react to societal pressure and preference? Ryan Kueh explores how the repeal of 377A aligns with Singapore’s political ethos and how Singapore’s Leadership can rise up to the task.
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A Migrant Worker’s Perspective: The Issues We Face
Migrant workers are all too often shut out from avenues to express their issues and concerns for public discussion. In this op-ed, Zakir Hossain Khokan tells us about the issues he has faced as a migrant working in Singapore, and what solutions might look like.
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Golden Mile Complex: Not Just Another Space
Golden Mile Complex is a Brutalist building facing potential demolition after its owners agreed to a collective sale attempt – much to the dismay of many in Singapore. Most news coverage, however, focuses on its architectural importance to Singapore’s heritage. But it plays an important social role, too, for Thai migrants. In this long-form research paper, Al Lim explores Golden Mile, and investigates the effect of its potential destruction on the Thai migrant community in Singapore.
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Can the Migrant Speak?: Migrant Worker Poetry and the Art of Advocacy in Singapore
A humane society cares for all of its members, whether they are citizens or not. But in today’s world, rights are often tied to citizenship. Poh Yong Han explores the options for migrant worker advocacy in Singapore, focusing on the potential power of the arts in bringing about positive change.
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