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“Cinderella Effect”: Is risk of abuse higher in stepfamilies?
Drawing its name from the popular fairy tale, the “Cinderella effect” describes the tragic phenomenon where children have a higher risk of abuse by non-biological parents (married or unmarried to the biological parent). Though well-documented, the reasons for the trend are hotly debated. Nevertheless, understanding the unique and specific challenges and complexities faced by stepfamilies can guide us in preventing and addressing child abuse.
- 28 July 2025
Becoming Mum: A Cultivate Commune (May) update
Becoming a mother can be a very challenging experience for some. At our Commune on 10 May, Jennifer Heng shared her story about how she came to start Safe Place, an organisation helps unsupported pregnant women and their families.
- July 14 2025
Fatherhood, Friendship, and Finding Community
C.S. Lewis once wrote that friendship is born when one person says to another, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.” This Father's Day, hear the story of The Ordinary Dad, a group formed when some stay-at-home dads came together and found community.
- June 15 2025
Double-edged Sword? Do grandparents help build strong families?
A study by Catholic Family Life found that strong families are undergirded by strong marriages. Four factors are key: family commitment, conflict resolution, marital satisfaction and family spirituality. But grandparents and intergenerational relationships could be a "double-edged sword" if values and attitudes are not aligned.
- June 12 2025
More For You
Online Sexual Harms: Why We Urgently Need More Protections
With our high digital connectivity, the lines between public and private life are often blurred or breached. This is especially serious in the context of online sexual harms, which disproportionately affect women, children and lower-income groups. More needs to be urgently done to combat online harms and protect the common good
- 20 January 2025
Unfiltered – The Whole Family Conversation 2024
Cultivate’s inaugural conference, “Unfiltered – The Whole Family Conversation”, took place on 14 November 2024 at the Grassroots Club. We featured three panels on topics related to family – marriage, children and intergenerational bonds – with speakers who shared their personal and professional insights. It sought to deepen conversations on unseen and upcoming issues on these fronts.
- 20 December 2024
Cultivate Commune: Success and Flourishing in Singapore
Cultivate Commune is a breakfast conversation where we explore how big ideas are planted in real community experiences. In this fourth Commune on 31 August 2024, we heard from Associate Professor (Dr) Tan Seow Hon. Joined by two panellists Su Ching and Sin Cheng, they spoke on the topic of success and flourishing in Singapore.
- 18 December 2024
