Obstacles Faced By Non-Chinese Groups In Singapore

Singapore population comprise of 77% Chinese, 14% Malays, 7% Indians and the remaining minority groups. The assertion of the superior status of the Chinese arguably comes about because of the dominant majority in Singapore. Unlike its neighboring country, the singaporean Chinese population is a powerful force as they dominate the economic, social and cultural sectors. While the city-state engages in multiracial and multicultural activities, racial prejudice and discrimination still exist and prevail.

Racial prejudice is an attitude when an individual judges another person of different race based on his or her group's real or imagined characteristics.Socially, Malays are labeled as lazy, incompetent in studies or generally overweight while Indians are often stereotyped as smelly, black or dirty. In this instance, Malay women are thought to be babies producing factories while Little India is perceived as a dirty space which is potentially threatening and dangerous. Even the Eurasians are widely conceived as luxurious rich people whom can be naively conned by unscrupulous hawkers or taxi drivers.

Economics wise, Malays are perceived as incompetent workers while Indians are calculative. These racist overtones arise due to the non-ethnocentric respect for different identities from the dominant Chinese group that lack the communication and knowledge of other ethnic groups. Within this ideology, individuals will judge other groups in relation to their own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with concern to language, behaviour, customs, and religion.

When negative attitudes on the basis of differences translate into behavior, we have as a result, discrimination and the social inequity it produces. The most common form of racism invariably experienced by Indians is 'name-calling'. The body and colour of the skin becomes the point of reference for ridicule, insult and verbal abuse. Likewise, Malays

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