Recently, I read this article on the ever-worsening problem of the fertility rate in Singapore. Having been taught about the problem in Geography lessons in the past, the article naturally sparked my interest.
During those lessons, I was quite skeptical as to whether the problem was really as serious as my teacher made it out to be. However, as I started reading the newspapers more frequently, I found more and more articles concerning this particular problem, and realised that the government was truly concerned about this problem. I then realised that as a youth, I could not truly understand the impact that this problem might have.
My limited understanding, however, allows me to see that the main concern of this problem is that as less couples marry and have children, the ratio of the number of elderly to the number of working adults changes, and there are ever more elderly to depend on the younger adults for support. If the problem goes on, Singapore will have a serious lack in manpower and may even change from a prosperous hub to a country struggling to support it’s own people.
It appears that from most adults’ point of view, this problem is either not a serious problem, or they feel it does not concern them. If it is the latter, it is saddening to note that nowadays, people give up or postpone the joys of having a family for more material comforts such as bigger apartments and cars. They would rather achieve economic stability in this insecure time, when competitiveness is high and Singaporeans just can’t bear to appear inferior to one another.
It is even ironic that this problem is caused by a higher standard of living, when a higher standard of living shows a country’s prosperity, and this problem will eventually destroy the prosperity of the country if not solved.
However, I realise that I am in no position to condemn the actions of the adults nowadays as I cannot really understand their situation. I cannot understand how adults think and the pressure they receive from the society, their workplaces, even their spouses. I cannot fairly judge their actions if I have not experienced the stressful life or their adult. I may even be assuming that the adults are not starting families because they want to enjoy material comforts and not because they really are not emotionally ready or they cannot support a family with their current income.
I also wondered, what are the adults teaching the younger generations? As adults, they are setting the example to marry late and have children late as well. Will my generation, in time, will also show this example to the future generations?
During those lessons, I was quite skeptical as to whether the problem was really as serious as my teacher made it out to be. However, as I started reading the newspapers more frequently, I found more and more articles concerning this particular problem, and realised that the government was truly concerned about this problem. I then realised that as a youth, I could not truly understand the impact that this problem might have.
My limited understanding, however, allows me to see that the main concern of this problem is that as less couples marry and have children, the ratio of the number of elderly to the number of working adults changes, and there are ever more elderly to depend on the younger adults for support. If the problem goes on, Singapore will have a serious lack in manpower and may even change from a prosperous hub to a country struggling to support it’s own people.
It appears that from most adults’ point of view, this problem is either not a serious problem, or they feel it does not concern them. If it is the latter, it is saddening to note that nowadays, people give up or postpone the joys of having a family for more material comforts such as bigger apartments and cars. They would rather achieve economic stability in this insecure time, when competitiveness is high and Singaporeans just can’t bear to appear inferior to one another.
It is even ironic that this problem is caused by a higher standard of living, when a higher standard of living shows a country’s prosperity, and this problem will eventually destroy the prosperity of the country if not solved.
However, I realise that I am in no position to condemn the actions of the adults nowadays as I cannot really understand their situation. I cannot understand how adults think and the pressure they receive from the society, their workplaces, even their spouses. I cannot fairly judge their actions if I have not experienced the stressful life or their adult. I may even be assuming that the adults are not starting families because they want to enjoy material comforts and not because they really are not emotionally ready or they cannot support a family with their current income.
I also wondered, what are the adults teaching the younger generations? As adults, they are setting the example to marry late and have children late as well. Will my generation, in time, will also show this example to the future generations?
1 comment:
Do be careful with the use of tenses, Zhengyi. General rule of thumb, for a review, you should use the present tense unless you're giving an anecdotal evidence. Also, when making reference to the article, it should be recounted in the present tense as well.
I thought this review is rather judgemental and lacks insight and sensitivity, however, I appreciate your acknowledgement of your own lack of "adult" understanding of the situation. ;@)
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