Jumping Out of the Box
With differing opinions between generations, conflict is bound to arise. Is Singapore’s society ready to take a big leap of change?
Story and Illustrations by Siti Hajar
Generation Z has been and continues to be constantly open-minded to different viewpoints, opinions and lifestyles. Thus, making us become one of the leading factors in today’s fast-paced society. Topics such as mental health, homosexuality, and abortion that were once deemed taboo have begun to be explored.
As my social circle continues to expand over my years spent in polytechnic, I have had opportunities to listen to experiences my classmates face in terms of their mental and physical health. From the struggles of eating disorders to domestic abuse, everyone lays their cards on the table. Despite being in vulnerable states, listeners would often empathize and motivate each other to excel to greater heights.However, I came to realize that this situation drastically changes when I am with family members.
Conversations often become shallow and simple, as if we are walking on eggshells around each other. I recall how my body tensed as my mother stared at the Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why’ on television.
“Would she like this type of show?”, “Does she understand it?”
I watched her expression morph from confusion into simply disinterest as I explained the plot, while I shrank in place.
It is quite obvious that Singapore’s older generations, which occupies roughly 85 percent of the population, have not accepted these topics. In 2021, Singapore’s society was still conservative on moral and sexuality issues such as premarital sex, since it was deemed ‘unjustifiable’.
““A mind is like a parachute. It does not work if it is not open.””
Although I believe that Singapore’s society has begun to be more aware of these topics, many still remain ignorant. Being somewhat close to my mother has given me access to a bunch of stories from her rugged childhood and adolescence.These stories often leave me with the thought of how difficult her life must have been growing up. She usually shared that her strict and traditional household refrained her from exploring and connecting with people.
“Yes, I was sad at some point when I was a kid, but I did not and do not have time for that anymore,” my mother simply dismissed it.
Having to manage her parent’s food stall as well as care for her siblings, she was unable to understand the inner struggles she faced as an adolescent. I came to realize that these topics were unfamiliar to her, not shunned away. When meeting relatives, I often hear criticism towards the modern generation’s topic of conversations. The words ‘sensitive’, ’ungrateful’, and ‘excuses’ often escape their mouths, leaving a sour taste in mine. With time catching up, I begin to worry that the communication between generations will soon be replaced with confrontations and no resolution.
From this, tensions will rise and bridging the generation gap will soon become irreparable. I believe that Singapore’s society still has a long way to go in terms of being more open-minded. Everyone must play a part in understanding each other’s perspective of our upbringing and morals. Instead of fighting fire with fire, Generation Z should be more considerate and understanding when communicating with the older generations.
Additionally, rather than viewing these ‘taboo’ topics as a distraction or inconvenience, we should collectively embrace it as a step to harmonize and connect better with our loved ones.
