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Let’s Talk: Take it like a man – How teenage boys use violence to enforce gender norms

June 21st, 2017 | Children and Young People, Events, Gender-based Violence, News

The recent horrific murder of Malaysian teenager T. Nhaveen puts a spotlight on how expectations of ‘manliness’ imposed on young boys can lead to violent and tragic consequences. Such dynamics are playing out every day in Singapore, too. A new survey has shown that bullying and pressure to conform to gender norms are a significant part of teenage boys’ experiences growing up. 90% of respondents face pressures to be ‘manly’, which materialise through experiences of harassment, bullying, teasing, social exclusion, and psychological and physical violence.

The study surveyed 809 male respondents across JCs, Polytechnics and ITEs, ages 17 to 18, who reflected on their experiences during secondary school. The study is a a collaboration between AWARE and Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Diploma in Psychology Studies programme

Join us for a dialogue session where we will present the findings of this survey.

Date: 12 July 2017 (Wednesday)
Time: 7pm
Venue: AWARE Centre (5 Dover Crescent #01-22)

Register here 

Leading the panel will be AWARE’s research team, together with Benny Bong, a counsellor and anti-violence advocate; Sherry Sherqueshaa, researcher and writer at Project X, a sex workers’ rights group; and Daryl Yam, a writer and editor who will be sharing more about his experience of violence in school.


About the speakers

Daryl Qilin Yam is a writer of prose and poetry, a co-editor of the SingPoWriMo anthology series by Math Paper Press, and an arts organiser at the literary non-profit Sing Lit Station. His first novel, Kappa Quartet (Epigram Books, 2016), was longlisted for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize and named a Best Book of 2016 by The Business Times.

Benny Bong is the director and principal consultant of The Family Therapist. He has over 30 years of working experience as a counsellor, Lecturer and trainer. He also has a long history with working against violence in the home. He is a founding member of Society Against Family Violence, non-profit organization of over twenty years, and serves as its current President. For his community efforts, Benny was awarded the Friend of MCYS award in 2007 and is appointed as a Master Practise Leader, in the field of Social Work. Benny was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award in 2011 for his work in preventing family violence and violence against women.

Sherry Sherqueshaa is a 26-year-old Singaporean transgender woman and a researcher and writer at Project X. She was a freelance expert in secret affairs, and also the Youth Programme Coordinator for Project X from September 2014 – October 2015. In November 2016, she took on a role as ​Project X’s researcher and writer. She has attended meetings and events regarding laws and sex worker issues in Singapore and also in Thailand. She then shares this knowledge and information to her peers during outreach and community events. Sherry has compiled a zine of sex workers’ writings and drawings which is now available at ​the Project X store. ​