X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • SPF 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

Are Singaporeans under pressure to have babies? Is it a national duty?

6 Jan, 2017
Are Singaporeans under pressure to have babies? Is it a national duty?

Are Singaporeans Under Pressure To Have Babies? What will it take for Singaporeans to consider having more babies?

According to Channel NewsAsia, the recent Talking Point forum on fertility set off yet another war of words. We all know the sad state of fertility rates in Singapore. Just what will it take for Singaporeans to consider having more babies? Let’s check out what the participants at the forum had to say:

  • National duty, lah! : Childhood educator Jason Ng, set off a debate of sorts when he said, “I do really see having children as a national service (that) we need to do because we have a shrinking population … just not enough people.” His views were met with much disapproval from others who thought that having a baby was more of a personal choice, and isn’t something that should be shoved upon you.
  • What about my career? : When it comes to babies, most women are torn between work and family. Having a baby puts women out of action for a while, and this naturally affects their career growth. Cherylyn Wee, finds it difficult to choose between them, “Then it takes me a much longer time to think about whether I could really give my best to the child but also give myself the life that I think I deserve.”
  • Expensive Singapore : Singapore has frequently figured in the most expensive cities of the world list, even topping the category on more occasions than one! It simply makes the cost of raising a child too hard to bear.
  • What’s in it for me? : Childless couples seem to insist on more incentives for motivation. Chong Ning Qian, a research executive at AWARE emphasises, “If I have to do something, then I should get compensation in return. Caregiving is hard work, not just for children (but) for your elderly parents as well. It is work that needs to be valued and needs to be paid for in some form, so I’m not going to do it for free.”
  • Don’t think, just do : Marcus Lian, dad to a little girl, thinks we tend to overthink when it comes to planning for a baby. He says, “When we start thinking of it very logically, it scares us away from having kids.”
  • Quality over quantity : Economist Walter Theseira, from SIM University thinks that the future may not be as bleak as it sounds, and all this pessimism may be unfounded. He opines, “Even though the quantity of manpower might be going down in the future, we’re going to compensate for that by having better quality manpower. We’re having fewer kids, but that means we’re putting more and more into each child.”

So what do you think, readers? Is less really more when it comes to population? Or should we be very worried when it comes to the dwindling fertility rates in Singapore? Let us know!

Watch the video of the discussion here:

Also READ: Reasons behind low fertility rate in Singapore

(Source: Channel NewsAsia)

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theAsianparent.com!!

Partner Stories
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jaya

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • Are Singaporeans under pressure to have babies? Is it a national duty?
Share:
  • Singapore’s top fears revealed. Are you braver than the average Singaporean?

    Singapore’s top fears revealed. Are you braver than the average Singaporean?

  • The 8 People You Will Hate After Giving Birth

    The 8 People You Will Hate After Giving Birth

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Singapore’s top fears revealed. Are you braver than the average Singaporean?

    Singapore’s top fears revealed. Are you braver than the average Singaporean?

  • The 8 People You Will Hate After Giving Birth

    The 8 People You Will Hate After Giving Birth

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.