"Aspirations and expectations" : how do youths see the future?

• Main Author: Quek, Nicholas Jian-Hui
• Other Authors: Muhammad Saidul Islam
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women; DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Social institutions
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/62427
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Various aspects of state policy in Singapore have often been viewed as a type of social engineering that is uncommon to liberal democracies. The case of Singapore is particularly instructive through the fusing of neoliberalism in the economy with a draconian and coercive authoritarian stance. This study seeks to make a contribution to this field, as it seeks to understand the impacts of the state policy on the aspirations and expectations of present-day upwardly mobile Singapore youths through an empirical investigation of the relationship between influences by the state through its policies and individual future decisions. Findings have shown that state discourse and policy did indeed have an influence on the actions of these youths. These youths aspire for upward social mobility, and are aware of their potential to ascend the social-economic ladder. They also expressed a desire for housing upgrades and recognised the importance of having the state’s support in helping them achieve their goals of upward mobility. However, there are other aspects such as family where state policy falls short with other potential considerations influencing decision-making.