The following are the full answers to the questions put to Martha Lee by I-S Magazine for their June 12 article. Martha is a member of the Aware EXCO.
Martha
How long have you been with Aware?
8 years as an active volunteer and member.
What have you learnt from the recent Aware controversy?
- I have learnt many things from the Aware controversy:
- Not to take for granted what Aware is and stands for
- The importance of always having grace, dignity and wits about in any situation
- To stand up for what is important to me and what I believe in
- What a group of passionate women can achieve in a short amount of time and it begins from believing in myself and my abilities
- To accept that having done your best to be at peace with oneself
What is your role within the organization as an exco member?
As Committee member, I attend Exco meetings and contribute towards the discussions and decision making for the betterment of Aware and advancement of women in Singapore.
Individually, what are you tasked to do in the next 12 months or so?
I have most recently helped with the Top Girls fundraiser which ended at DBS Arts Centre on 30 May. I am representing the New Media, Public Relations as well as Direct Services subcomm on Exco. I will take on additional responsibilities as needed.
In your individual opinion, what misconceptions about Aware continue to remain after this saga?
Some of the misconceptions would include that Aware has an agenda to promote homosexuality; is and had been irrelevant to the women of Singapore and society at large; and that we had wavered from our original mission. These are all untrue.
There is also a sizeable groundswell of opinion that some of your policies are out of step of with Singapore’s societal values. What do you say about that? And as an individual, what are you doing about such perceptions?
I would invite them to join Aware, participate in our programmes, and run alongside us. If they took time to understand the work we have been doing and the approaches we have undertaken, they might then reevaluate if our policies are really out of step with Singapore’s societal values and in the meantime do a great deal of good work. As an individual, I would correct such perceptions where possible.
What are some the biggest challenges faced by Singapore women today?
There is no one single type of Singapore woman. The women of Singapore have multi-dimensional concerns and challenges in life which might include the areas of self, family, work, and society. There are populations of Singapore women which have the bigger challenges: single mothers, divorced women, and foreign wives. All of whom Aware had done and will continue to do work in.
Has the recent controversy set the organization back? If so, how should the organization build itself up from heron in?
The controversy has galvanized Aware. We have 3000 members, many of whom are keen to contribute actively. We will involve them in their areas of interests, and groom those with potential. We will immediately go about rebuilding relations with our long-time donors, funders and supporters. The work will continue and those who know us, know that the work speaks for itself.
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