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Recession tightens father’s ties with child
By Tan Weizhen
AT LEAST one good thing has come out of the recession: Dads now have more time to spend with their families.
The Centre for Fathering has seen so much demand for its father-and-child bonding camps that it has had to turn people away.
‘Usually, we hold it twice a year, but we’ve already run two camps so far due to demand,’ said an employee of the centre, Mr Danny Teo. ‘Perhaps because of the recession, unemployed fathers or those on leave have more time.’
Fathers are welcoming the intimacy offered by the overnight camps, where they get to enjoy outdoor activities like rock climbing with their children. They also get to cook.
One parent, Mr Ng Yao Ling, 40, who recently attended a camp with his son, said, ‘I really treasured this time of closeness during the camp when my child could see me for who I am.’
The last camp had 16 pairs of fathers and kids.
Recession aside, fathers are changing with the younger generation, said the centre’s director and founder, Mr Wong Suen Kwong. They are more hands on now.
‘Maybe because more women are working, so they’ve got to pick up more slack at home,’ said Mr Wong.
For years, it has been the women’s movement which has made strides. But now, attention is turning towards men’s issues, such as health and emotional well-being.
In April, two brothers and their friend set up the Men’s Association for Progress because they ‘always felt there is a lack of attention towards men’s issues’, said its founder, Mr Rajesh Rai.
‘It’s wonderful how women’s groups have proactively addressed women’s issues. But everyone deserves to be heard. A lot of men’s issues are taken too lightly, for example higher suicide rates, health issues and workplace safety issues,’ said Mr Rai, 29, who founded the group with his brother, Rakesh, 34, and his friend Alex Kai, 27.
Another issue facing men today is the challenge of balancing family and work.
‘Most men are increasingly expected to work, and also to help out with the household chores at home, so it is not easy,’ said Mr Rai.
The group intends to register as a society and is planning two campaigns. One is a Web campaign to promote Father’s Day on Sunday, and the other will coincide with International Men’s Day in November. It is on Facebook, garnering a growing list of over 200 members.
There are at least three other men’s groups in Singapore: Society for Men’s Health, Association for Devoted and Active Family Men, and Centre for Men and Families.
Society for Men’s Health focuses on an area that its founder, Dr Peter Lim, feels is neglected.
‘There is a focus area for women’s health – obstetrics and gynaecology – but men have no equivalent, say, to look after sexual dysfunction problems,’ said the 59-year-old urologist.
‘It doesn’t help that Singapore men don’t go for check-ups.’
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men’s issues are always about money, career and women. those sort of things.*`;