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Writ Comm Final Essay
Saturday, December 6, 2014 @ 1:21 AM
National Service in Singapore should be compulsory for women.
“What you cannot defend, does not belong to you” – Singapore belongs to everyone, thus women should be made to serve National Service (NS). Singapore’s defence policy aims for peace and stability in the country – we depend on our own countrymen to defend what is rightly ours. All able-bodied male Singaporeans, as well as permanent residents, are to undertake NS, to be prepared for the task of defending their family and homeland. NSmen make up over 80% of the strength of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) (Defending Singapore 42). To most, this might be a special rite of passage. According to mindef.gov, a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) shows that 9 out of 10 respondents supported this rite of passage (Beng). NS brings together Singaporeans of different racial, religious and educational background – they live, train and experience NS together. Currently, it is only compulsory for men, why not for women? Through recruitment in NS, it helps instill a sense of belonging to and ownership of the country. Moreover, according to an article by Channel NewsAsia, one out of 10 Singaporean women said they would take up a voluntary two-year NS option themselves (“Study Shows One in 10…”). NS should be compulsory for women because it will help combat economic problems, it will improve social relationships and it will reap benefits for women individually.
Firstly, women in NS will combat any challenges that the defence sector is currently facing. It is no surprise that Singapore is facing a declining birth rate. According to sg.news.yahoo, “Singapore's total fertility rate last year stood at 1.20 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain the native-born population.” Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, added that “the declining fertility rate remains the biggest threat to Singapore's survival” (“Singapore’s Lee says not…”). Hence with fewer babies being born, we might not have a substantial number of people to defend the country in the future. Due to this, it would lead to problems such as the shortage of manpower, skills and young men to defend the country. One option that has been brought up but not implemented would be recruiting women into NS. Through this, Singapore does not need to solely depend on the NSmen as well as those in the SAF. A larger number of Singaporeans would be equipped with the skills and knowledge on how to defend the country. According to a Straits Times article, women are currently able to sign up as volunteers once they reach the age of 17 (Chow). However, not many women are signing up, and the volunteer scheme for women is not widely publicize (Chow). Given Singapore’s small population, NS remains the only option we can turn to – through this we can build up a defence force capable and tough enough to deter an external attack. Thus, it would make much more sense to have both men and women enlisted in NS as it would lessen the problem of finding enough people to defend the country. In his book, Huxley mentioned, “the recruitment of women allows men to be released for frontline combat duties” (118). The commitment given by our countrymen to defend the country is crucial for the security of Singapore, as well as our economic development. Hence, by recruiting women into NS, it will help tackle the issue that Singapore is facing in regards to the lack of manpower in the defence sector.
Besides lifting the nation economically, it will improve social relationships. There is a certain assumption that women are physically weaker than men and that they are incapable of carrying out certain physical activities. By having women in NS, it will erase any misconceptions that women cannot do what men can do, in terms of physicality. Boys, at a young age, are told that they will have to go through NS and thus, would be cautious of their fitness level. If girls, at a young age, are told that they will eventually be conscripted, their attitude towards their fitness will be better. Other than the misconception in physicality, women in NS would also remove the discriminatory feeling between the two genders. Some citizens felt that it is unfair that only men have to go through NS. In a survey that included 1,251 citizens, over 70 per cent of respondents agreed with the need for women’s involvement in the defence sector (“Study Shows One in 10…”). It is also mentioned in 2004 by the then-MP Lim Hwee Hua that “It’s a form of discrimination if only men serve NS” because women are also receiving equal treatment in education and employment as men (Chow). Why then is there a difference in responsibility when it comes to defending the nation? If women served alongside men, men will be more respectful of women and vice versa. Hence, there will be a greater understanding between the two genders. Therefore, women in NS would help remove this discriminatory policy.
Lastly, other than benefitting on an economic and social level, women serving NS would ultimately benefit them on an individual level. Being recruited in NS will teach them many important life values. One example would be gaining leadership skills while in NS. Through NS, there are many different forms of taking up leadership roles - be it as an officer, a specialist leader or even as a private soldier (Cheok 82-83). Not only is NS a platform to learn how to defend the country, it is also a platform to widen your horizons. Another example would be learning self-defence. For example, women would learn combat moves during their time in NS and this can help them learn how to defend themselves whenever they are alone, especially in crucial times such as going home late at night. Not only this, they will benefit by knowing how to defend the country. In addition, services such as nursing, social welfare and civil defence will allow women to care for others, consequently cultivating a sense of empathy and social responsibility in them. Most importantly, being recruited in NS will increase their physicality. According to findings from NHSS 2007 found on singstat.gov, females are not as physically active as the men (Lee). They also tend to exercise less regularly than males – 22 per cent of women versus 25 per cent of men (Lee). There is also a notion that women are physically weaker than men, and therefore unable to participate in some physical activities (Lee). Hence, being recruited in NS will help women improve themselves mentality as well as physically.
To sum it up, NS should be made compulsory for women for three reasons - it will help combat economic problems, it will improve social relationships and it will reap benefits for women individually. Singapore is a country with a small population. By recruiting women into NS, we will have a larger number of citizens who are capable of defending the country. We will not have to depend only on the NSmen. Also, having NS made compulsory for women will remove any discriminatory feelings regarding this issue. Men can no longer argue that it is unfair, as women will also go through what they did. Lastly, women will benefit from being in NS. They will acquire invaluable lessons after being recruited. This includes having a fitter lifestyle and strong physicality thus they are able to defend themselves, as well as the country.