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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
Update from Cultivate Commune: Large Families
Cultivate Commune is a breakfast conversation where we explore how big ideas are planted in real community experiences. In this second Commune on 31 May 2024, two couples with large families shared with us about their joys, challenges and perspectives.
- 1 July 2024
From Third World to First: Lee Kuan Yew’s Take on Family Values
“Singapore depends on the strength and influence of the family to keep society orderly and maintain a culture of thrift, hard work, filial piety and respect for elders and for scholarship and learning.”
- Lee Kuan Yew
- 30 June 2024
What are “Good Enough” Marriages?
From a child’s perspective, “good enough” marriages are those where there is a low level of conflict between parents. Based on research, it would be better for children in the long term to reconcile such “good enough” marriages instead of divorce.
- 14 June 2024
