Since a feminist is one who believes that women should have political, social, sexual, intellectual and economic rights equal to those of men, I was joining and taking action! Just why would I want to embrace a belief where women, myself included, were born inferior, naturally less capable and good for only cooking, cleaning and washing?

People have asked why I am fighting for women’s rights when we already have so much. I had to explain the basics of gender equality which is the equality of the genders or the sexes. Aware was advocating for not women but rather both men and women. Also until the day women really believe, and embrace the power that is already theirs in working alongside men, the work of Aware needs to continue.

I have been volunteering with Aware in different capacities in the last eight years: from publicity, writing, and fund raising. I found the women of Aware far from what is often perceived. They were highly intelligent, extremely articulate, and well-respected successful individuals comfortable in their skin. Coming from diverse backgrounds – age, race, and religion – we have worked alongside one another, and on serious issues and projects.

Aware has always had a fine reputation, successfully nominating not one but three of our candidates to be NMPs. Consider this: Which organization meets with the police to discuss how rape victims in trauma can be better treated? Which non-profit has been hearing the heartaches of women in Singapore for the last 15 years through their helpline? Which other group in Singapore has the guts and stamina to proactively advocate for women’s rights?

Lately Aware has been in the media for the wrong reasons. How was this hostile takeover even possible? Were the members sleeping? No. We have simply been too busy doing the work. We did not anticipate this would happen.

But why wash dirty linen in public? Sure we are embarrassed but do we have a choice? The new Exco has not been acting in the best interests of members and women at large with their hostile takeover, not to mention disbanding the various sub-committees without reason.

I have been proud to be associated with Aware and these courageous women. The takeover has not changed this. We are now doing what we can to save Aware.

Women of today can apply to be doctors, work in the civil service and enjoy the same medical benefits or choose to stay home to cook, clean and wash for the family. We have choices our mothers and grandmothers did not. Aware has made a difference to the quality of our lives.

Women of Singapore: Aware has served you for the last 25 years. I urge you to make a stand: join Aware today at www.aware.org.sg and make a difference with your vote during our EOGM on May 2.

I am writing in support of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). Before joining Aware in 2002, I was asked if I really wanted to be associated with a group of pot-banging, men-hating feminists who were bitter with their lot and had nothing better to do.

Since a feminist is one who believes women should have political, social, sexual, intellectual and economic rights equal to those of men, I was joining in and taking action.

People have asked why I am fighting for women’s rights when we already have so much. I had to explain the basics of gender equality, which is equality of genders or sexes. Aware advocated not for women, but both men and women. Also, until the day women really believe and embrace the power that is already theirs in working beside men, the work of Aware needs to continue.

I have volunteered with Aware in different capacities in the past eight years, including publicity, writing and fund-raising. I found the women there far from what is often perceived. They were highly intelligent, extremely articulate and respected successful individuals comfortable in their skin. Coming from diverse backgrounds – in terms of age, race and religion – we have worked side by side on serious issues and projects.

Aware has always had a fine reputation, successfully nominating not one but three candidates to be Nominated MPs. Consider this: Which organisation meets the police to discuss how rape victims can be better treated? Which non-profit group has heard the heartaches of women in Singapore for the past 15 years through its helpline? Which other group in Singapore has the guts and stamina to proactively advocate for women’s rights?

Lately, Aware has been in the news for the wrong reasons. How was this hostile takeover even possible? Were the members asleep? No. We have simply been too busy doing the work. We did not anticipate this would happen.

But why wash dirty linen in public? Sure, we are embarrassed but do we have a choice? The new executive committee has not acted in the best interests of members and women at large with their hostile takeover, not to mention disbanding various sub-committees without reason.

I have been proud to be associated with Aware and these courageous women. The takeover has not changed this. We are now doing what we can to save Aware.

Women today can apply to be doctors, work in the civil service and enjoy the same medical benefits as men, or choose to stay home to cook, clean and wash for their family. We have choices our mothers and grandmothers did not have. Aware has made a difference to the quality of our lives.

The link is here.