I refer to Mr. Wong Hoong Hooi, “AWARE should stop being gender focused” (Forum, 13 July 2006).

In expressing our concern that women face discrimination, whether intentional or not, in the workplace as a result of their pregnancy, we do not suggest that other forms of discrimination do not take place. We agree totally, as Mr. Wong pointed out, that discrimination on the basis of age too is a problem that ought to be tackled. However, to say that other problems exist does not negate the fact of growing testimonial evidence that there is widespread and commonplace difficulty in pregnant workers holding on to their jobs.

Association of Women for Action and REsearch (AWARE) has a vision of Gender Equity For All. To do that, we try to raise awareness of Women’s and Men’s rights and responsibilities. Like any other interest group, AWARE has to pick its issues. It has chosen to focus, given its limited resources, on the interests of women in society. However, the male chapter of AWARE also functions to promote gender equity by challenging stereotypical views of gender roles. Therefore, as well intentioned as it may be, Mr. Wong’s criticism of AWARE is, respectfully, misplaced.

In Mr. Wong’s letter, he raised the example of employers who dislike employees having to take leave for reservist training. This, in fact, neatly supports the point made by AWARE that pregnant women do face some form of discrimination unique to them. To elaborate, many male workers are called up for up to forty days of reservist training per year. No stigma or sanction is attached to an employee seeking paid leave to attend reservist training. Indeed, I have not heard of any NS Man who has lost his job because he has had to attend reservist training. MINDEF, too, does it part by recognizing companies who have gone the extra mile in supporting their employees’ service to the nation. Just recently, MINDEF allowed a serviceman to leave camp on the very day he was supposed to book in for training because his employer needed him urgently.

The question that confronts us is why this unstinting support for national servicemen does not extend to women who are pregnant. As a society that benefits from and actively encourages childbirth, we can appreciate the wrong that is done when a woman loses her job by mere fact that she is pregnant. And further, to tie in with Mr. Wong’s argument that AWARE (and aggrieved women and men who support AWARE’s position) is being unfairly emotive and subjective, it should be borne in mind that the impact of a woman losing her job will naturally extend to her husband, her family and her child, all of whom lose an important source of income. And, to bring it a step further, what if this worker were a single parent? What source of income would she have to support her child?

It would be mistaken to say that focusing on problems unique to women causes gender friction. The solution to friction between men and women is not through “gender blindness” because this only serves to preserve the status quo, and the inequities and inequalities that may currently exist. But to say that we ought to be “gender conscious” does not entail asserting female superiority. All that it means is that we must be alive to the fact (not speculation) that real imbalances persist, and that there are problems that do affect women more than men, even if exceptions exist. Equality does not mean giving the same to everyone; it means treating everyone as equals, taking into account their unique circumstances. Just as it is fair for male workers on reservist training to get the benefit of maintaining their jobs, it is fair and equal for pregnant staff to maintain theirs.

In the end, I am grateful that Mr. Wong has pointed out the many injustices that Singaporeans face. However, it should also be understood that to place the world’s problems on the shoulders of AWARE is both unrealistic and unfair. AWARE, just like any other society that is formed around a specific agenda has chosen to focus its energies on problems unique to gender. This does not mean that AWARE does not acknowledge other forms of discrimination. By the same token, the fact that other issues exist does not undercut the claim that pregnant employees do face discrimination in the workplace.

TAN WAH KIAT
Chairperson, White Ribbon Campaign
Member, Male Chapter of AWARE