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"Being “hella woke” is foolish. Lower your pitchforks, and hear me out.

There are some aspects of the woke movement I genuinely applaud. For example, cancelling slurs like “slut”, “faggot”, and “tranny”.

Language shapes how we think, and consequently, how societies function.

In cancelling words and phrases that perpetuate negative stereotypes — women should not be sexually promiscuous, being gay or transgender is derogable — I believe we are making the world a better place.

What I cannot get on board with is the cancelling of people and organisations for believing or saying something that opposes the “woke stance”, whatever the issue." (Taken from the article: click on article to read more!)

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In a room full of woke people, I would probably just sit quietly, smile, and nod if someone said: "Children should have access to puberty blockers, no questions asked!"

And that doesn't help the trans community at all. All I'd be doing is pretending to understand and embrace all their choices, a facade erected to mask how ignorant and uncertain I actually am.

If I were allowed to speak freely without risking being crucified, I'd ask questions like: "There are people who de-transition (regret and reverse transitioning), if you halt puberty in children, could that be really bad for them? Because de-transitioning already sounds like a complex process.

"Add in the fact that they never developed fully - would it still be possible to help them de-transition? Also, how young is too young?"

Then we'd be able to have a real discussion, instead of just agreeing like sheep.

Being woke isn't just being sensitive or caring. It also encourages narrow-mindedness, and refuses to acknowledge, let alone respect, even the mere suggestion of differences in opinion.

So what? So, people end up opting for fake niceness over their true opinions, presenting an inauthentic (but acceptable) version of themselves to you, Mr Hella Woke.

No, you haven't influenced them. No, they aren't woke like you.

But yes, your outrage has created such a climate of fear that no one will ever speak their minds around you.

Congratulations, you're officially in a room full of virtue signallers. Who, by the way, may behave badly in private, hurting the communities you so vehemently claim to protect.

The fact is no single individual is capable of gathering all the information there is on any topic.

The world and the repositories of information it offers are far too large and complex.

Which is why we actually need others to find out about these things, create their own views, and share them with us. Even if they come to us with opinions we deem less-than-savoury.

Of course, in a perfect world, we would all be single-minded - we would agree on these grey-area issues, and everyone would live happily ever after.

But we don't live in a world like that. We live in a world where people read, subscribe to, and preach different things.

That is the richness of the human experience - everyone brings something unique to the table.

"Wokeism" and cancel culture threaten genuine collaboration and discussion, and subsequently, the expansion of thought and knowledge.

Taken to an extreme, they are truly a disservice to humanity.

So if you're anything like me, I hope you can find the courage to disagree with the mob and speak your mind. And if you're "hella woke", please don't cancel me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dana Teoh Jia Yi, 24, is a final year communications and new media student at the National University of Singapore.
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this article contained insensitive language which has been removed.

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Gen Y Speaks: This is why I don't want to be woke. Don't cancel me for it

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In a room full of woke people, I would probably just sit quietly, smile, and nod if someone said: "Children should have access to puberty blockers, no questions asked!" And that doesn't help the trans community at all.

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The debate on race and racism in Singapore has highlighted the use of terms such as ‘Chinese privilege’. While some argue that the label helps expose structural inequalities, others caution that it is a ‘borrowed’ Western concept that may not fully reflect Singapore’s context. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has also described the claim of widespread ‘Chinese privilege’ as ‘entirely baseless’, stressing that Singapore should avoid adopting divisive narratives.

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New debate on race, racism in Singapore tackles call-out culture and ‘Chinese privilege’

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Is a ‘loud’ conversation on race occurring now because Singapore’s racial harmony is worsening? When and how should people be called out on racism? Questions like these get asked, and answered, in a Regardless of Race forum.

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Panellists at a forum said the concept of privilege for a racial community is an important discussion point

It helps young Singaporeans talk about their lived realities

However, it must also be contextualised correctly for Singapore

Some older Singaporeans do not necessarily feel they have any privilege, for example

SINGAPORE - Discussions about the privileges of the majority race might be a concept originating from the west, but they are useful as a baseline for Singaporeans to discuss their lived realities, academics at a forum said.

However, the trouble lies when notions such as Chinese privilege are not adapted enough for a local context and are thrown around as a blanket term, one of the panellists said.

At the Forum on Race and Racism in Singapore, held on Friday (June 25) by the Institute of Policy Studies and the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, the panellists were Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat and Associate Professor Daniel Goh from National University of Singapore (NUS), Dr Laavanya Kathiravelu from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Mr Goh Sin Teck, editor of the Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao.

Assoc Prof Elmie is from the department of communications and new media at NUS, Assoc Prof Goh is from the department of sociology at NUS and Dr Laavanya is from NTU's School of Social Sciences.

The discussion's moderator Paulin Straughan, a professor of sociology at the Singapore Management University's School of Social Sciences, noted that people in Singapore borrow plenty of labels from societies abroad - Black Lives Matter, #MeToo and white privilege - and asked what were the dangers of importing these ideas and changing the labels to suit Singapore's needs, such as the concept of "Chinese privilege".

Both Dr Laavanya and Assoc Prof Goh pointed out that this phenomena is not new and gave examples of how the concepts of meritocracy or even terms such as "garden city" came from the United Kingdom. They were, however, contextualised for Singapore.

On whether the notion of privilege is relevant for Singapore, Dr Laavanya believes that it is.

"It has resonated among young people here because people are struggling for a language to talk about their social reality," she said. "So these ideas or these concepts are useful to express particular feelings."

Still, context matters, Assoc Prof Goh said.

"My objection to the term 'Chinese privilege'... is that we are not adapting it enough," he said. "We are borrowing without contextualising it and without putting it in a proper kind of institutional perspective."

He explained that any form of privilege does not exist independently of institutions, which include social organisations such as families or work places, and they must be included in any critique.

"To use it (labels such as 'Chinese privilege') as a blanket term will be to revert to the same kind of racism and racialisation that we do not want," Assoc Prof Goh said.

He added that telling the majority of the population that "you have privilege, you don't realise it, (therefore) you are complicit in racism" is not helpful, because it puts everyone into a defensive posture and cuts off conversation.

Instead, he suggested that people share their encounters of racism with each other.

"Let's open up the space for conversation... The question of privilege is important and it has to be discussed."
REJECTING IDEAS OF PRIVILEGE
Offering an explanation for why some Chinese reject the idea of racial privilege, Mr Goh of Lianhe Zaobao said that they may be feeling marginalised themselves.

This group tends to be the older "silent majority" who cannot speak English and this language inadequacy causes them to "face frustrations and marginalisation", Mr Goh said.

He added that he feels sorry for them when they say they do not believe they have any privileges, only to have it misinterpreted to mean that they do not believe racism exists, when that is not the case at all.

"They are just saying that, 'As a Chinese-speaking individual, I do not see myself enjoying any privilege at all'."

That is why the term "Chinese privilege" is not helpful in forging understanding between people but divides them instead, Mr Goh said.

In response, Professor Straughan said that this is why conversations are needed, as they help distil misunderstandings and clarify "the very complex thoughts that go into very simple statements".

"Race relations are very hard to articulate, particularly if you're trying to talk about lived experiences," she said.

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'Chinese privilege' a borrowed label but important to discuss and set in Singapore's context, experts say

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SINGAPORE - Discussions about the privileges of the majority race might be a concept originating from the west, but they are useful as a baseline for Singaporeans to discuss their lived realities, academics at a forum said.

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NDR 2021: PM Lee says ‘entirely baseless’ to claim that ‘Chinese privilege’ exists in Singapore

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SINGAPORE: It is “entirely baseless” to claim that there is “Chinese privilege” in Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 29), noting that Singapore treats “all races equally, with no special privileges”. But he said that racial harmony may be taken for granted following

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In Singapore’s Parliament has passed its first comprehensive Workplace Fairness Legislation. The landmark Bill prohibits discrimination in employment based on characteristics such as age, sex, race, religion, and disability. This move reflects the government’s effort to strengthen inclusivity and fairness at the workplace, amid growing public expectations on equality.

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Singapore passes landmark anti-discrimination Bill for workers

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The Workplace Fairness Act will come into effect in 2026 or 2027.

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Singapore’s workplace fairness law hailed but rights group points to gaps

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Employers who discriminate against workers based on characteristics such as race, age, sex and nationality could be prosecuted under the proposed law.

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Local media and advertising companies are increasingly prioritising diversity and inclusion. Campaigns now feature more multicultural families, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ representation. Advocates say this reflects a ‘woke shift’ in how Singapore’s media portrays society, though critics argue it risks tokenism.

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Quick stats: Around 78% of SG consumers care about D&I efforts in ads

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About 63% of Singapore consumers would be likely to engage with an ad that appears alongside content that promotes diversity and inclusion.

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How “Woke Drift” Could Sink Singapore’s Opposition in GE2025

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How “Woke Drift” Could Sink Singapore’s Opposition in GE2025

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Lessons from the US 2024 Election That Singapore’s Opposition Parties Must Urgently Heed

In the United States, the 2024 election produced a political shockwave: Donald Trump returned to power, propelled not just by his loyal base but by a growing middle-ground backlash against “woke excesses.” Many voters, tired of ideological overreach in schools, corporations, and media, swung back toward what they perceived as “common sense.”

The key lesson? When the opposition to an establishment party embraces too much progressive ideology detached from real-world concerns, they alienate moderates and lose elections.

In 2025, Singapore may be facing a similar inflection point.

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How “Woke Drift” Could Sink Singapore’s Opposition in GE2025

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Lessons from the US 2024 Election That Singapore’s Opposition Parties Must Urgently Heed

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Since 2009, the annual Pink Dot event at Hong Lim Park has drawn thousands advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Supporters frame it as part of Singapore’s journey towards inclusivity, while critics say it reflects imported ‘woke’ activism. The debate intensified in 2022, when Section 377A — the law criminalising sex between men — was repealed.

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Debate on Section 377A repeal: MPs raise concerns on ‘cancel culture, increased activism’

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Regardless of whether Singaporeans support the repeal or retention of Section 377A of the Penal Code, they should not subscribe to a culture of “canceling” each other for not sharing the same views, said several Members of Parliament (MPs) of the People’s Action Party (PAP) during a debate on the re

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Good to be socially aware, but 'make haste slowly' when changing social norms: Tharman tells youths

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Good to be socially aware, but 'make haste slowly' when changing social norms: Tharman tells youths

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Good to be socially aware, but ‘make haste slowly’ when changing social norms: Tharman tells youths

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Being “woke” or being an activist can be a good thing if it means making people more socially aware of issues, said presidential hopeful Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Saturday (July 22).

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In 2023, rapper Subhas Nair was sentenced to jail after making comments on race and religion in his music and online posts. Supporters saw his actions as calling out racism, while critics viewed it as divisive and inflammatory. The case sparked discussions about the limits of free speech, activism, and the risks of adopting ‘woke’ call-out culture in Singapore.

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How Rapping About Racism in Singapore Resulted in a Jail Sentence

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Experts say Subhas Nair’s case speaks to both the effectiveness and limits of the Singapore government’s heavy-handed approach to minimizing uncomfortable discourse.

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Q9: The reading passages cover a range of views about woke culture.

How far do you agree that woke culture brings about more harms than benefits? [12]

Support your answer with reference to:

·       The ideas and opinions from at least one of the reading passages

·       Examples drawn from your own experience and that of your society.

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REQUIREMENTS. Candidates should:

Explain the extent to which woke culture is beneficial or harmful for their society

Support their views with reasoned argument

Show understanding of the ideas and attitudes in the passages

Explain the extent of their agreement with them

EXPLANATION. Candidates should show understanding of some of the following issues: (Frame as questions: *see attached photo)

General advice (e.g. on claim selection, and to avoid misinterpretation)

Avoid engaging the events and examples in the passages (are there are BLM protests in Singapore?). Instead, engage with arguments (is wokeness just ‘striving for fairness’? does it ‘make a better world’?) and general observations (do disagreements lead to debate or cancel culture in Singapore?) at a deeper level. Move beyond the what to the why and how.

Discussing woke culture as perpetrated by an individual without making the link to what happens on a collective/societal level limits your engagement with the question. Engage the topic on a broader level to capture the scope of the term.

Also consider analysing the benefits and drawbacks of ‘wokeness’ beyond the level of the individual; instead, think about how your society might benefit or suffer from woke culture. Also pay close attention to the idea of ‘what sort of society does woke culture ultimately create?’, which is a prominent thread through all three passages. Your evaluation could include an extrapolation of the broad effects one society if certain trends or instincts are widespread and sustained (does society become fairer, or more oppressive?)

As woke culture examples may include prominent examples involving scandals or controversy, avoid listing details irrelevant to the discussion, or spending many words (and minutes) describing ‘the back story’ and setting context. Condense your examples and illustrations.

Also avoid merely furnishing examples from your own immediate experience (e.g. what you did and how your friends responded). Use SPECTRAL and GCI to brainstorm and broaden discussion points. Link it to broader trends and attitudes across society, or other examples and references beyond your own personal experience.

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Guiding questions for Explanation for Prelim P2 Woke Culture

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Candidates may also link woke culture to other relevant discussions and contexts such as:

Morality, moral responsibility, and the duty to speak/withhold judgement. Also related: Freedom of speech.

Considerations of guilt, punishment and proportionality. Also related: Retribution, deterrent effect, presumption of innocence before guilt is proven, mob justice, etc.

Issues related to race, religion, language, culture (and changing attitudes towards these issues)

Polarisation and fragmentation of society (or the preservation of common ground and values)

Forgiveness and empathy; the rehabilitation of the public image of individuals and institutions.

Individual rights vs the public good (e.g. expressing anger vs respecting the due process of the law)

If there should be institutional consequences for private behaviour (e.g. forced unemployment from being cancelled)

The reach and influence of social media, including filter bubbles, echo chambers, etc.

Sensationalism embedded in the attention economy (e.g. ‘Clickbait’ / ’Ragebait’ articles, warped representation of current events, etc)

EVALUATION. Candidates should:

Question/show reasons for approving of some of these views

Give examples from their own and their society’s experience in support of their view.

May put forward original ideas on the benefits – or otherwise – of woke culture.

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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Nanyang Tech chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

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I have a deeply uncomfortable relationship with the term woke. Being labelled as that woke friend on numerous occasions, I’ve come to see it as a means of

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Elon Musk tweets clip of Lee Hsien Loong's take on 'wokeness', captions it 'Wisdom'

Not the first time SM Lee has been praised for his take on woke culture.

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Elon Musk tweets clip of Lee Hsien Loong’s take on ‘wokeness’, captions it ‘Wisdom’

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Not the first time SM Lee has been praised for his take on woke culture.

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At 23, Mr Mock Yi Jun is among young Singaporeans that his generation calls "woke".

"Woke" means being acutely aware of social issues - and acting on such awareness. Where others merely worry about a pandemic-stricken economy, climate change and political upheaval, the "woke" prefer to walk as much as talk, to do what others don't or won't.

Confronting the challenges of this generation, Mr Mock and his Singaporean peers are using their voice, talents and skills to be the new normal's agents of change.

Mr Mock leads a 51-strong team who are helping youth make informed decisions about their career and future education choices. He is doing this through Advisory, a non-profit organisation that offers resources such as an online career guidance portal.

He shares that his previous internships with government agencies helped to land him a foreign service scholarship and zero in on his occupation of choice, inspiring him to set up Advisory for young job seekers.

The organisation's career guidance portal publishes in-depth interviews with industry experts that provide an inside look at specific professions, with personal accounts of job experiences and details of work tasks and environments.

The interviews can be read for free on Advisory's website.

In April, the organisation launched an online mentorship programme that pairs students with working professionals for three months. The mentors provide advice and guidance on issues such as career interests and future education choices.

Mr Mock shares that of the programme's 1,943 applicants, aged between 16 and 28, almost 700 have been matched with a mentor so far.

He feels the Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of supporting youth seeking career-related opportunities.

Issues on jobs and the future of work are among the top concerns that youth have voiced on various platforms.

To address these concerns, the National Youth Council (NYC) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) have rolled out a slew of initiatives to engage and strengthen the youth voice in shaping Singapore's future.

NYC, for instance, has facilitated discussions and activities and provided resources that support youth advocacy and action.

They are part of efforts to encourage youth to partner the Government in the policy-making process and come up with solutions to societal issues on a regular basis.

To seek youth input on new and existing policies, NYC also conducts policy-based engagements.

Emerging Stronger Conversations

One key engagement effort is a new series of dialogues, known as the Emerging Stronger Conversations (ESC), that provides a platform for Singaporeans to reflect on their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and share their hopes for a post-pandemic Singapore. NYC is organising seven of these sessions for youth.

Based on recent dialogues, some key concerns of the youth include:

Having a greater stake in shaping a more inclusive Singapore;

Creating a culture for youth to feel safe in seeking help for mental well-being issues;

Providing more emotional support for vulnerable communities beyond structured support systems;

Prioritising environmental and sustainability issues such as climate change and waste reduction habits even during a pandemic, and

Being competitive and staying relevant in the job market

Mr Mock participated in one such session and had four key takeaways:

A need for more focused career mentorship programmes;

A growing anxiety over job prospects among graduating students;

A high demand for upskilling and reskilling opportunities, and

A need to build a more resilient economy that can withstand future shocks

Moving forward, he hopes to introduce more initiatives through his organisation to help the young in those specific areas.

Support from NYC has been critical in Advisory's efforts so far.

Last July, Advisory emerged as the winner in the inaugural Youth Action Challenge (YAC) Summit, organised by NYC, MCCY and the People's Association Youth Movement.

The challenge encourages youth to generate policy ideas and ground-up initiatives to solve societal issues in partnership with the Government.

"As an organisation, the impetus to understand how we could do even more for schools and students than we already have, drove our decision to take part in the Youth Action Challenge," explains Mr Mock, who is currently serving National Service.

As winners, Advisory received a $50,000 grant that will be used to roll out new initiatives such as the Advisory Schools Programme. To be launched next year, the programme will provide education and career guidance to over 44,000 tertiary students.

Thinking deeper, helping further

Over the last few months, the Government has rolled out a slew of support schemes to provide financial assistance to those affected by the pandemic.

The National Youth Council shared that some young Singaporeans voiced concerns about reaching out to vulnerable communities during the ESC youth dialogue sessions.

Youth Corps Singapore (YCS) Leader Muhammad Habib, 26, a part-time sociology student at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, is among those who attended the dialogue and felt that more could be done to provide adequate support for such communities.

"Although government help is available, there are always families that slip through the cracks and might miss out on the help rendered for some reason," he says.

Mr Habib has also been volunteering with youth initiatives such as Food from the Heart and Willing Hearts, which prepare and deliver food to vulnerable families and people in Singapore.

The volunteer believes that his role goes beyond providing meals.

"While people may be receiving financial assistance, they are also lonely and isolated. As volunteers, we play our part by providing companionship as well."

He credits YCS for equipping him with the right skills to "think deeper" and discern appropriate forms of assistance for different groups within the community.

"Everyone we meet has their own set of personal problems and challenges. And while we can't solve these issues, we lend a listening ear and focus on forging strong relationships with them."

BE BOLD, BE HEARD, BE THE CHANGE

As leaders of tomorrow, youth have the power to shape the future of the country. Not sure where to begin? Check out these initiatives:

Play a part in shaping the youth vision for Singapore in 2025 and get involved in the Youth Action Challenge for a chance to recommend policy changes or champion initiatives that address societal issues.

Meet, connect and collaborate with like-minded youth by organising community projects or championing ground-up initiatives. Develop your ideas with mentorship from youth leaders and seed funding to grow and implement solutions that help the community.

Ignite positive change with Youth Corps Singapore and contribute to the community. Receive life-skills training and mentorship, and meet like-minded peers throughout your volunteering journey.

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Unfazed by upheaval, more young S'poreans are Woke with hope

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More youth are stepping forward to "be the change", undaunted by pandemic uncertainty Read more at straitstimes.com.