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https://mothership.sg/2019/05/cna-dont-call-us-poor-low-income/
CNA’s “Don’t call us poor” documentary gives unprecedented insight into lives of S’pore’s low-income
Melanie Lim |
May 15, 07:09 pm
On May 6, 2019, CNA re-published “Don’t call us poor”, a docu-series that first aired in 2015.
Since then, the first episode alone has racked up over 374,000 views and counting. The second episode is currently #6 on YouTube’s trending list.
Revolving around the lives of five low-income families who reside in Bukit Merah, each episode gives unbarred access into their day-to-day struggles as well as the social assistance they receive.
Overarching sentiments of pity and blame
While netizens were generally sympathetic towards the plight of these families, there were also some who felt that these families were responsible for their situation:
Image via YouTube
Image via fuckwarezone
If you are poor, you should not have children
Some even went so far as to blast these parents for having children despite lacking the finances, as many of the families featured had two or more children, with one family even having seven.
Image via YouTube
Image via YouTube
Image via YouTube
Stereotypical welfare dependents
One couple, in particular, stood out to netizens.
In the docu-series, Hong Chuan Chuan is 7 months pregnant and lives in a rental flat with her husband Sky Quek and their two daughters.
Both Hong and Quek work part-time at a nearby KFC outlet and bring home a combined income of $1,000 a month.
In addition to the lack of money, their marriage is also fraught with abuse, as Quek has an explosive temper that often leads to him lashing out at Hong physically.
A few netizens expressed anger at the couple’s excuses for not getting full-time jobs, in addition to Quek’s apathetic attitude:
Image via YouTube
Image via Reddit
Poverty is a vicious cycle
One user, however, felt that Hong and Quek behaved the way they did due to the lack of financial literacy, in addition to a kind of scarcity mentality.
After all, research has shown that being in poverty impairs one’s cognitive ability to make good decisions:
Image via Reddit
Change is possible
Eventually, Quek showed signs of wanting to change for the better when he decided to attend anger management classes with a counsellor for the
sake of his children:
The relevant dialogue starts from 21:50, but here’s a transcript of the conversation:
While some might feel that Quek or the other couples could do better in managing poverty, others raised concepts of empathy and understanding.
Image via YouTube
Their argument is that if poverty is a combination of both systemic flaws and personal failings, society should strive to be less judgmental about how the poor think and behave.
After all, a society is only as strong as its weakest link.
You can watch all 5 episodes of “Don’t call us poor” here.
https://mothership.sg/2019/05/cna-dont-call-us-poor-low-income/
CNA’s “Don’t call us poor” documentary gives unprecedented insight into lives of S’pore’s low-income
Melanie Lim |
On May 6, 2019, CNA re-published “Don’t call us poor”, a docu-series that first aired in 2015.
Since then, the first episode alone has racked up over 374,000 views and counting. The second episode is currently #6 on YouTube’s trending list.
Revolving around the lives of five low-income families who reside in Bukit Merah, each episode gives unbarred access into their day-to-day struggles as well as the social assistance they receive.
Overarching sentiments of pity and blame
While netizens were generally sympathetic towards the plight of these families, there were also some who felt that these families were responsible for their situation:
If you are poor, you should not have children
Some even went so far as to blast these parents for having children despite lacking the finances, as many of the families featured had two or more children, with one family even having seven.
Stereotypical welfare dependents
One couple, in particular, stood out to netizens.
In the docu-series, Hong Chuan Chuan is 7 months pregnant and lives in a rental flat with her husband Sky Quek and their two daughters.
Both Hong and Quek work part-time at a nearby KFC outlet and bring home a combined income of $1,000 a month.
In addition to the lack of money, their marriage is also fraught with abuse, as Quek has an explosive temper that often leads to him lashing out at Hong physically.
A few netizens expressed anger at the couple’s excuses for not getting full-time jobs, in addition to Quek’s apathetic attitude:
Poverty is a vicious cycle
One user, however, felt that Hong and Quek behaved the way they did due to the lack of financial literacy, in addition to a kind of scarcity mentality.
After all, research has shown that being in poverty impairs one’s cognitive ability to make good decisions:
Change is possible
Eventually, Quek showed signs of wanting to change for the better when he decided to attend anger management classes with a counsellor for the
sake of his children:
The relevant dialogue starts from 21:50, but here’s a transcript of the conversation:
Interviewer: Do you think about whether your actions will cause your children to…
Quek: Live in fear? Yes. That’s why I say they are the main reason I have decided to change. I’m not changing for myself – what for? I’m already like this. It’s only after I saw how my family reacted to me, their expressions… That’s when I felt that in the long run, it’s not good for their mental health. Just imagine someone you are so close to – your own father, he’s like a whip. Each morning you don’t know what his temper would be like – stormy, or calm and peaceful? Or will there be a tsunami? Growing up in that sort of environment isn’t healthy.
More support, less judgmentWhile some might feel that Quek or the other couples could do better in managing poverty, others raised concepts of empathy and understanding.
Their argument is that if poverty is a combination of both systemic flaws and personal failings, society should strive to be less judgmental about how the poor think and behave.
After all, a society is only as strong as its weakest link.
You can watch all 5 episodes of “Don’t call us poor” here.
https://mothership.sg/2019/05/cna-dont-call-us-poor-low-income/
