A study of familial gender relations, and the effectiveness of pro-family policies in Singapore.

Abstract

As Singapore’s GDP per capita rose from that of a third world country to first, it’s total fertility rates plunged to one of the lowest in the world. In an attempt to reverse declining fertility rates, pro-family policy enhancements were enacted. This included the introduction of paternity leave, suggesting familial gender equality in childbearing decisions. Using a political-economic approach, this research investigates the current status of gender relations in Singapore and its complex interactions with the state. It explores how the state governs gender relations through implementation of state policies and mechanisms. Employing sociological insights from Beck, the research unearths and explains how childbearing decisions are made, and aims to promote an understanding of the reasons couples have for delaying or eschewing from childbearing.