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This talk is brought to you by Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore; in collaboration with the National Library Board Singapore.

CHAIRPERSON

Prof Jean Yeung, Asia Research Institute, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore.

ABSTRACT

In many countries, family structures and practices are diversifying. This is evident in an emergent trend in Southeast Asian countries: caring for children after separation or divorce. This practice raises questions about change and continuity in families, including:

1. What are the practices and identities available to mothers and fathers after separation and  divorce?; and
2. How do governments influence post-separation parenting identities and practices?

This lecture answers these questions through a comparison of family trends in Southeast Asia and Australia. It will present child support (the transfer of money between separated parents to contribute to the costs of raising children from the relationship) in Australia as a case study of the ways individuals and governments manage the challenges and opportunities of post-separation financial and care responsibilities. The lecture suggests that for fathers, mothers and governments, child support is more than a financial issue. Child support is a form of ‘special money’. It impacts upon household budgets, parents’ incomes and child wellbeing and it is used to symbolically express what it means and how it feels to be a father or a mother in times of social and personal change.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Kristin NATALIER is Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania, Australia. In her research, she has focused on developing new knowledge and building a new theoretical approach within Australian scholarship of child support. Dr Natalier has lead the first large scale and multi-method  study on the  transfer and use of child support since work conducted in the mid 1980s by Australian Institute for Family Studies. This work included the first large Australian qualitative study of both mothers’ and fathers’ understandings and uses of child support. Prior to her work, Australian research tended to be quantitative and descriptive, or utilised very small samples in qualitative studies. Her study developed an important evidence – base of the financial and housing impacts of child support.

A short presentation will be followed after Q&A session by Dr Vivienne Wee, AWARE, on the support services and programmes for Singapore single parents.

Vivienne WEE is an anthropologist who has done extensive research on issues of gender, power, religion and ethno-nationalism, especially in Indonesia. She has done research on almost every country in Southeast Asia. She is a founding member of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and is the current Research and Advocacy Director. She is a Council Member of the international network Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML). She has co-initiated several multi-country programmes spanning Asia, the Middle East and Africa. She has taught at the National University of Singapore, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , City University of Hong Kong and SIM University. She played a key role in initiating two Master’s programmes – Master of Development Studies at City University of Hong Kong and Master of Community Leadership and Social Development at SIM University.

ARI ASIA TRENDS 2014 SERIES

ASIA TRENDS is an ARI flagship public outreach event. This annual series of public lectures is an opportunity for ARI to connect with the local Singapore community through informing and interacting with various public sectors (citizenry, government), civil society organizations, businesses, universities and colleges, by presenting cutting edge research on major trends in Asia. Some trends examined in the past include “Confucian China in a Changing World Order,” “Tsai Ming-liang and a Cinema of Slowness,” “Here Today and Tomorrow: Transnational Domestic Workers and the Decent Work Agenda in Asia,” “Demystifying Stereotypes on Asian Education Systems,” and “’Male Modernity’, Puritanism, and the Southeast Asian City.” Each ARI research cluster hosts an evening talk, during which an overseas speaker, who is a prominent researcher or scholar, is invited to examine an emerging trend in that research field; a Singapore-based researcher then provides comments on local development with regard to the relevant trend. Past seminars have witnessed some interesting interaction between speakers and commentators; some have also seen lively audience participation in the discussions. ASIA TRENDS showcase the work of ARI’s research clusters, highlights the relevance of ARI’s research to Singapore, and relates Singapore to the rest of Asia from the perspective of significant trends in the region.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free, however, registration is required as seats are limited. Kindly register early and we would greatly appreciate it if you email Sharon at arios@nus.edu.sgyour name, email, and organisation/affiliation.