Ageing in Southeast and East Asia: Family, Social Protection, Policy Challenges

11. Multigenerational Families in Singapore

216 216 Kalyani K. Mehta and Thang Leng Leng 11 MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES IN SINGAPORE Kalyani K. Mehta1 and Thang Leng Leng INTRODUCTION The maintenance of close relational ties within multigenerational families has long been a cultural ideal in Asian families. In the discussion of the concept of the Asian family discussed in sociological literature, the high level of interdependence which is maintained even after adult children are married seems to be a distinguishing factor. Research that has studied the life course perspective among Asian populations has highlighted the concept of the “traditional contract” between generations (Bengston 1992). Antonucci’s (1990) concept of generalized reciprocity, which refers to exchanges that take place over the lifespan of two generations, are observed to be very much alive in Singapore today (Mehta 1999). This exchange of reciprocal ties between older parents and their adult children has been studied in anthropological and sociological literature as “filial piety”. (Thang 2000) The topic of grandparenting has received much attention in recent years (Hayslip and Kaminski 2005; Minkler and Fuller-Thomson 2005; LandryMeyer and Newman 2004). A recent study on filial piety in Singapore by Goransson (2004) traces the trends in changes in the operationalization of filial piety in the Singapore context presently. Discussing the impact of the non-welfare system of Singapore on family dynamics in the context of Chinese Confucian tradition, she concludes that although “[t]he prevalence of filial piety, seniority, and solid intergenerational ties in notions of Chinese 216 11 Ageing_East Asia_Ch 11 1/10/08, 10:31 AM 216 217 Multigenerational Families in Singapore 217 culture suggest that familial support and care of elderly would be somehow in-built in the minds of Chinese people”, “[i]n practice however, the image proves to be problematic.” (ibid., p. 20). From Goransson’s illuminating study, it is therefore important to conduct in-depth qualitative research to “listen to the ground” in order to fully understand the Singaporean reality. FOCUS OF CHAPTER This chapter will limit the “Asian family” to the three major ethnic groups in Singapore, that is, the Chinese, Malays and Indians. The chapter reports on the qualitative findings of part of a larger research project titled “Grandparenting in Selected Asian Societies”, funded by the National University of Singapore. While the larger research covers five countries, this chapter is restricted in scope to Singapore only.2 Living arrangements determine to a large extent the nature and support available to the members residing in the household. As another study showed, there are benefits and strains involved in co-residential living (Mehta, Osman and Lee 1995). According to the Census 2000, 5.6 per cent of all households were multigenerational in Singapore in the year 2000. Among the major ethnic groups, the Malays had the highest proportion of multigenerational households. Prior to discussion of the findings, we need to take a look at the policy framework of Singapore’s approach to families and old age care. Unlike in many developed countries and newly industrialized countries where the government takes major responsibilities in providing health care financing, it is a matter of individual responsibility in Singapore. The family is expected to be the main provider if the individual needs assistance in old age, and the government steps in only as the last resort. Housing and economic policies provide incentives for, and facilitate intergenerational living. Thus in this way the government promotes interdependence within Singaporean families. Moreover, the Asian cultural values of “filial piety” and “repaying debt to parents” are promoted and preserved by the government; one example is the provision that a person can use his/her Medisave to pay for the hospitalization expenses of his/her parents or grandparents. This, in turn, also paves the way for the state to assume minimal responsibility for senior Singaporeans. National policies for the elderly in Singapore have been described elsewhere (Mehta 2002; Teo 1994). Although the ideology embedded in the policies is that the multigenerational family is highly valued, and the tangible and intangible benefits are immeasurable, few systematic studies, however, have actually been conducted, taking into account the views of the three generations. 11 Ageing_East Asia_Ch 11 1/10/08, 10:31 AM 217 218 218 Kalyani K. Mehta and Thang Leng Leng METHODOLOGY A qualitative methodology was applied using originally designed questionnaires. The questions are related to the meaning of grandparenting from the viewpoint of the grandparent as well as the grandchild; level of satisfaction...