There was a recent piece of news based on a research by SMU’s Professor Norman Li, concluding that Singapore girls are materialistic and it was published online and in the Straits Times. In the newspaper report on the Straits Times, it was said that this research could shed light on Singapore’s falling birth rates.
Read the report here: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/pore-girls-materialistic-smu-study-092109660.html
A few points I want to make here about this issue.
Firstly, the word “materialistic” is used inappropriately. If a Singaporean girl chooses as first choice, “Money” when they look for a husband, compared to their American counterpart, who chose “Kindness”, it might not mean that the SG girl is materialistic. Many girls surveyed and selected “Money” as first choice, were probably thinking that their future husband should be financially stable. Wanting a husband who is financially stable is DIFFERENT from being materialistic! Women want men who want to work hard and provide for the family. We are looking at that value of the men’s character rather than the value of the things the men can give. That’s why… not just quantative research, Prof Li should also use qualitative research to substantiate and clarify the survey results.
Secondly, please note that survey sample of this research project. They only surveyed 400 SMU students, not women across the age/educational specturm! The generalisation that “Singapore girls are materialistic” is simply too sweeping and inaccurate! The correct headline should have been: “University students are materialistic: Study”. I like the way Yue gave her opinion on this. Yue likens it to a researcher surveying Christians in a church, and asking, “What is the most important religion?”. Then immediately, next in the headlines, we see: “Singapore is a Christian country!” Obviously we know what sort of answers many university students would give! It’s really ridiculous isn’t it. Please don’t generalise all Singapore women to be like this when the survey sample is only among SMU STUDENTS!!
To understand Singapore’s falling birth rates, rather than this research, I thought a qualitative research project done by my professor, Prof Shirley Sun provides more insights. Having interviewed many single and married women, it was an extensive research project. One of her findings was that women were resistant to giving birth because the penalty, or at least, the threat of the penalties that they face after giving birth, was too big. I can’t remember entirely the research results as it was done a couple of years ago when I was still in Year 4, but I thought the results would be helpful, especially to Singapore’s National Population and Talent Division.
Anyway, just feel that these issues should be pointed out as I thought this headline was too misleading. This headline undeniably does make for good conversation starters but to do generalisations like this does not help in building a good research reputation for SMU. Plus, I wouldn’t want Singapore men to think all women are like that, lest they get frightened off and start looking out for Vietnamese wives…