Singapore women
‘World’s second most independent’
Elle magazine quotes one, “Sex when it rains, shopping when sunny.” Channel News Asia.
Nov 30, 2003

The Singapore woman is the second most independent in the world says ELLE magazine from its survey. She is the most romantic in Asia.

It was a tough call for Singapore women when asked to choose between sex and shopping. "Hmm, tough! Sex when it's raining, shopping when it's sunny," quipped a Singapore woman in jest.

She is one example of the independent, highly educated Singapore woman which ELLE magazine says is second only to Swedish women in terms of independence.

Out of 20,000 readers in 35 countries, Singapore women are also the most romantic in Asia.

They say they will only marry for love and expect the men to take on more responsibilities.

"I'm not surprised we are the most romantic people around, actually I think we aspire to receive flowers and gifts, we celebrate Valentine's Day, etc," said a Singaporean woman.

Another chimed in: "Romantic uh? I think we are too independent to be romantic!"

"It's quite contradicting sometimes. Aside from expecting him to be gentlemanly, chivalrous and all that, I expect him to treat me as an equal as well.

“Rather than him being the man and I'm the woman, I expect him to share the housework as well," said a third.

Said Sonia Rossignol, ELLE International Marketing Research Director: "The couple life is very important to her. She's demanding, she wants a real relationship with fidelity, and love is the reason for her to live together, not reasons like social security (which is the case) in a lot of Asian countries but not in Singapore."

After all, she is financially independent, and feels she should shop like there is no tomorrow.

Philip Koh, Acting CEO of MediaCorp Publishing, said: "The survey findings confirms my feelings of the Singaporean women that they're independent and they really go out of their way to succeed in what they want to do.

“They're also nuggets of information in this survey results especially for the advertising.

“They shop because they want personal satisfaction and pleasure, rather than social status. That would then mean that the advertising message have to change significantly."

And while she may be independent and liberated financially, the survey says Singapore women say no to pre-marital sex, though those Channel NewsAsia spoke to, think otherwise!

"I don't think that's true. I think all developed countries, they believe in pre-marital now," said a Singaporean woman.

Another added: "You say they dont believe in pre-marital sex, I think nowadays the youngsters are more into it. They're quite open about such a thing."

"I think Singapore men are like unpolished stones, you know, they need lots of encouragement, they need a lot of prodding they need lots of help but not in a bad way," said a third.

Most of the respondents surveyed by ELLE magazine were under 35 years old, highly educated, holding professional positions and are in the medium-to-high income bracket.

"Singapore readers are at the crossroads between Asian and Western ones. She has also demanding attitude concerning gender equality.

“She feels she's equal to men, and she wants to share with men family life and so on. And she thinks that men have to adapt to women's new role.

"She wants to have success professionally, but what is linked to her hedonistic approach of life, is that success is also enjoying life.

“She does not want to have a crazy life, she wants also to have pleasure, to enjoy everyday, a carpe diam attitude," said Ms Rossignol. - CNA

Some disagreements from the Internet:
Pinkieslut
Studying overseas, I met Asian (especially Chinese) girls from
all over the Earth. To be honest, the most romantic and independent
girls are from Malaysia.
Singapore girls, many simple could not take care of themselves at all. Many of them cannot cook or clean, often expect the male housemate to do the work ("We are ladies mah").
In additon to that, they are often very opinionated (not that its a bad thing) but at the same thing, not humble as well as having the wrong information.

Laurei2002
That I totally agree because I am living with some too (sisters)
they always like to use the statement “we are ladies mah" to their advantages.
Tough things, ask guys to do it when it comes to privileges, they will ask for equity of sexes. Some Sngapore gals are just full of bull ....no brains and like to criticise others ....maybe they live too long in this small island, don’t know what’s happening outside.

Justin179
Independent? Hahahaha
Don’t how to cook, don’t want to clean up, don’t want to do housework, at office also need guys to be gentlemanly and help them do things, at school, same thing etc etc.
How to be independent when they keep using this social thing to their advantage? Far from it, and the magazines are always projecting an image of Singapore guys being (messed) up, and the Singapore gals are so assertive and good and yada yada.
This can only jeopardise our social fabric; they should ban such sexually discriminating articles.
Nov 30, 2003