<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Low fertility? Blame job anxieties, stress and high cost of living
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->OUR forefathers used to be able to have many children without losing their Asian values. Their children did not move out to live on their own at the age of 18. They moved out when they got married. Some even lived with their parents after marriage and had at least four children.
Why is Singapore's fertility rate no longer high?
In the good old days, people worked for the same company for more than 20 years, but this is no longer the case today. Younger Singaporeans worry about job security and this anxiety is factored into their plans to marry and have children.
Furthermore, many jobs now require one to travel overseas and even to be posted overseas. It is difficult to maintain a long-distance relationship. Thus, how can we expect a high fertility rate in Singapore?
Moreover, education standards are getting higher, and parents can no longer teach their children. Parents must spend a lot on tuition to help their children. Childcare, maid and medical expenses are high. As a result, many people hesitate to have more children or even have them at all.
How many of us have had to handle more responsibility at work when someone has left the company? How often are we so tired we have no interest in sex after work?
Evelyn Tan (Ms)
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->OUR forefathers used to be able to have many children without losing their Asian values. Their children did not move out to live on their own at the age of 18. They moved out when they got married. Some even lived with their parents after marriage and had at least four children.
Why is Singapore's fertility rate no longer high?
In the good old days, people worked for the same company for more than 20 years, but this is no longer the case today. Younger Singaporeans worry about job security and this anxiety is factored into their plans to marry and have children.
Furthermore, many jobs now require one to travel overseas and even to be posted overseas. It is difficult to maintain a long-distance relationship. Thus, how can we expect a high fertility rate in Singapore?
Moreover, education standards are getting higher, and parents can no longer teach their children. Parents must spend a lot on tuition to help their children. Childcare, maid and medical expenses are high. As a result, many people hesitate to have more children or even have them at all.
How many of us have had to handle more responsibility at work when someone has left the company? How often are we so tired we have no interest in sex after work?
Evelyn Tan (Ms)
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