Dear reader,

“Singapore This Week”. In our weekly digest, we talk about S Iswaran’s 12-month jail sentence; the fallout from the longest-ever continuous disruption to a train service; the seeming twilight of mamak stalls; the landlady who refuses to sell land worth S$70m on which sits Singapore’s last kampung; the late Alfred Wong, modernist architect; the final edition of Pasar Glamour, where proceeds from second-hand high fashion go to a good cause; the Sea Group’s expansion in Thailand; and more.

Essay: “The untold struggles of single parents in Singapore”. Many vulnerable groups are stigmatised in this still conservative society. One that we rarely hear about, or from, is single parents. I suspect it’s partly because of the sense of shame that afflicts many of them (mostly mums), along with their admirable defiance to provide for, and protect, their children. It is perhaps harder, understandably so, for them to be vulnerable about their struggles, particularly if they’re still living with the fear of an abusive, sexist, or misogynistic ex-partner.

“Most people become single parents by circumstance, not choice,” writes Sherryl Cheong. “Common reasons include the death or incarceration of a partner; separation or divorce due to incompatibility, infidelity, domestic violence; or having a child outside of wedlock. Without sufficient preparation, resources and a reliable support network, single parents can easily find themselves struggling to provide for their children.”

Sherryl, who describes herself as “a Singapore-based writer who’s invested in telling stories that shine a light on our rich inner worlds”, first wrote about mutual aid networks for Jom. In this, her second essay, she’s turned her focus to single parents. Sherryl has a gift for teasing out stories about vulnerable communities and writing about them in an empathetic but matter-of-fact way. In her hands, the horror of the situation doesn’t immediately shock the reader, but slowly rises and surrounds you, as with the essay’s opening tragedy.

This is also a personal story for Sherryl, who was brought up by a single mum for a period in her life. The heroes in this story are not just the parents, but the ones supporting them, whether civil society workers or self-motivated Singaporean do-gooders. What we’re ultimately left with is the gnawing feeling that the famed Singapore system has utterly failed a particular group of people—and we need to act with urgency now to improve their lot.

“Some stories may be punctuated with tragedy and loss, while others seem more ordinary. Yet, every single one of them underscores the importance of more inclusive social policies and a broader culture of empathy towards single parents, who are simply trying their best to thrive in a society that prioritises the traditional nuclear family.”

As you know, Jom’s values indicate that we express solidarity with marginalised communities everywhere, and that we strive to shine a light on issues and personalities typically under-represented in the media. For helping us collectively do some of our most meaningful work, thank you, Sherryl. 

Jom fikir,
Sudhir Vadaketh
Editor-in-chief, Jom

Behind Jom’s art, with Charmaine Poh

Ngiam Li Yi was one of Jom’s earliest visual contributors, and we’re glad to be working with her again. Her illustrations empathetically depict the challenges single parents face, such as in housing and bureaucracy. Their beauty is in the details: the micro-expressions and body language of the families showcase the everyday resilience such individuals possess as they navigate the system. Enveloped in a warm glow, the illustrations are imbued with a sense of calm, love, and solidarity.

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