chap 5

• what are the 4 factors that shape our identities ?

  • race and ethnicity
  • religion
  • socio- economic status
  • nationality
• elaboration of race and ethnicity shaping out identity

  • In Singapore, our race is divided into Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others
  • This broad categorisation of race was necessary in the past to shape policies in areas of education, housing and welfare and bring different communities in Singapore closer together.
  • Over the years, these categorizations have been revised as Singapore becomes a more diversified society
  • Racial Harmony Day is celebrated in July every year, aiming to foster understanding between different races so that it can build up strong social cohesion in Singapore.
• How does race and ethnicity shape our identities ?

  • Race and ethnicity shape our identity because most of us belong to a particular racial and/or ethnic communities
  • the practices and beliefs of these communities shape our way of life and influences our identity to a large extent (outcome).
• elaboration on religion

  • Singapore has several main religions practiced by the citizens. Some of them include: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism.
  • These main religions promote values such as respect, integrity and love and care for one another. 
  • Under Article 15 of the Singapore Constitution, Singaporeans are free to propagate and practice their religion freely. 
  • There is a need for Singaporeans to be sensitive to the beliefs of others as this will help to shape harmony in Singapore regardless of which religious group a person belongs to. 
• how is religious harmony maintained ?

   Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO)

  • Founded in 1949
  • The IRO works to promote peace and religious harmony in Singapore
  • This is done through organization and participation in local and international forums to learn from other regions on how to deal with challenges resulting from religious practices
• How does religion shape our identities ?


  • plays an important role in shaping our identity because most religions embody a set of shared core beliefs and practices and believers keep to them regardless of their nationality and ethnicity
  • these beliefs and practices would influence the way we think, the way we interact with others and the choices that we make in life (outcome)
• elaboration on ses

  • Singapore’s population is diverse as it is made up of groups with different SES: High SES, Middle SES & Low SES
  • In Singapore, an individual/household’s income level is used as the indicator for SES
  • SES affects our lives in different ways. 
  • higher ses go for Fine dining, luxurious holidays
  • all ses groups go Swimming at public pool, cycling at public park, eating at hawker centre as they are accessible
• what is social mobility ?

  • SES is not fixed and can change at different stages of an individual’s life. 
  • To facilitate social mobility, many measures have been put in place to support the needs of the people belonging to the lower SES groups
  • The Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) enables Singapore Citizens from lower- to middle-income households, to receive subsidies for medical and dental care at participating General Practitioners (GP) and dental clinics.
  • All Singapore Citizens who meet the household monthly income per person of $1,800 and below can qualify for CHAS.
• elaboration on nationality

  Nationality involves having a legal status in a country as well as a sense of belonging and sharing common experiences with other people.

  • People of the same nationality usually share a common history, set of traditions, practices, language and Live within a particular geographical area
  • People from the same country may feel more comfortable with other members of the same nationality because they can identify with common experiences, attitudes and beliefs
  • Singapore is known to the rest of the world as a food paradise
  • foods like Nasi Lemak, Chicken Rice, Laksa
• how does nationality shape out identity ?

  • creating opportunities for people from different races, religions and backgrounds allows them to have
  • This is seen in how Singaporean Food has shaped national identity among Singaporeans because regardless of race or religion, people share a common love for food.
  • food brings Singaporeans together and is an important part of our Singaporean national identity (outcome).
• how does ses shape our identity ?

  • it determines if a person’s basic needs are being met and if their well-being is ensured (access to housing, healthcare and education) (outcome).
  • affect the type of activities, educational and employment opportunities  and even sometimes social circles an individual is involved in which then influences his personal identity (outcome).