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Author: Cultivate SG
“Concerted Cultivation” on Steroids? How Singaporeans’ ‘kiasu’ parenting arises from our notions of success
In child-rearing styles, sociologist Annette Lareau observed that middle-class families engage in “concerted cultivation” to develop children through organised activities, while working-class and poor families use the “accomplishment of natural growth” where children are typically free to go out and play. As Singapore progressed from Third World to First, has our society adopted a “pressure-cooker” attitude towards child-raising?
- 11 February 2025
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
“Singapore Dream” Redux: Material Success, Flourishing or…?
For the longest time, the “Singapore Dream” has been about achieving material success through hard work, but attitudes are changing. In this “refreshed Singapore Dream”, is there room to focus more on human flourishing?
- 11 October 2024
NDR 2024 – Upcoming Parental Leave Enhancements: Are They Enough?
A survey commissioned by Cultivate SG and conducted by Milieu Insight suggests that societal attitudes on parenthood and work commitments may pose a challenge to take-up rates in the increases to paternity leave and shared parental leave.
- 30 August 2024
The Childcare Conundrum: Who to care for baby?
Welcoming a newborn into the family is a joyous and life-changing experience, but who will take care of baby when Mum and Dad have to go back to work? In this article, we explore some options for childcare.
- 23 August 2024
Update from Cultivate Commune: Singlehood, Marriage, and Friendships
Cultivate Commune is a breakfast conversation where we explore how big ideas are planted in real community experiences. In this third Commune on 6 July 2024, we heard from two long-time friends, one married with children and one single. What can we do to sustain our friendships through different life stages of marriage or having children?
- 19 August 2024
On Social Media and Touching Grass
Social media has enabled us to connect with others like never before, but why are people feeling lonelier? Research shows that we all need social contact with other people to keep mentally fit, and to feel connected and appreciated.
- 31 July 2024
Cultivate Culture: How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Tear-jerking Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” invites us to reflect: Do we see our relationships in purely transactional terms, or do we genuinely love people – especially the elderly and sick – as persons worthy to be loved?
- 20 July 2024