Staying in hall has given me the chance to interact with students who came all the way from a different culture background to Singapore to further their studies. These students often display characteristics of their own culture before integrating into the local culture.
An example of such a student is Mei. Mei is a girl from China who received a scholarship to pursue her degree in Singapore. Like the rest of the university year one students, Mei took part in the hall orientation camp in hope to integrate into the culture here. Mei was enjoying herself during the orientation camp until the segment of captain’s ball came. She played actively in the game, but found the Singaporean students staring at her in disgust when she raised her arms to catch the ball. She could not comprehend the reactions from the Singaporean students and could only try to avoid their stares. She eventually decided to consult me, who was in the same orientation group as her.
I asked Mei if she has the habit of removing her armpit hair, and Mei replied no. I explained to Mei that in Singapore, most girls have the habit of getting rid of their armpit hair as failure to do so may be considered as unhygienic and disgusting. I also advised her to either remove her armpit hair like normal girls in Singapore would, or avoid wearing sleeveless clothing. Mei was very surprised with the habit of removing armpit hair for girls in Singapore, as back in her hometown, such a habit did not exist. She also felt embarrassed for being seen as disgusting in Singaporeans’ eyes and is determined not to make “mistakes” like this as she integrate into the Singapore culture.
Hello Hwee Teng. I have to admit that I chuckled a bit after reading your post. First, I did not know it was a Singapore culture to remove armpit hair for girls. I thought it is just a preference, out of hygiene or aesthetic purposes. Nonetheless, I think you did a good job in helping her integrate with more friends in Singapore after the "talk".
ReplyDeleteHi Hwee Teng,
ReplyDeleteYour post is really funny! I have to admit though, I thoroughly emphasize with the 'Singaporean students' you mentioned. Sometimes I wonder whether its a cultural thing, or that the weather in China is colder, such that 'hair' is needed to keep warm? Out of politeness I haven't been able to solve this question by asking. =P
Like Luqman, I think you did a good job in helping your friend to integrate well into our 'cultural practices'.
Cheers,
Jake
Hey man,
ReplyDeleteThis is a stereotypically terrible post Hwee Teng!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh dear!
The stereotypes of what constitutes standards of beauty in girls and their make-up of appearances are MALE-CENTRIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is because, Hwee Teng; also the reason for the reactions of the Singaporeans, our society Singapore's is largely PATRIACHIAL!!!!!!!! Singapore and in fact almost every center of media, business, politics and economics in this world are MALE-DOMINATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Therefore Hwee Teng, the vantage points with which people from all walks of life tend to make sense of society and its schemes are mostly male-centric. By virtue of that, what makes a girl desirable in the eyes of other men and women is also male bias; HOW TO RUE HWEE TENG!!!!!
That is the root cause of the reaction of the Singaporeans Hwee Teng, which they themselves if not school in sociology or anthropology will never know why they found girls with armpit hair so repulsive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Simply because somewhere in the line of their socialization from birth till then, they have been unconciously or conscious brainwashed with images of the very perfect feminine beauty captured and enshrined in the goddesses of American or Taiwanese pop idols or OTHERWISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW ELSE DO THEY THINK AND REACT WHAT THEY THINK AND REACT, HWEE TENG????????????????????
I have shown you Hwee Teng, the evil of the media and for that matter any kinds of political, business, social, economic, cultural worlds; and that for being male-centric. If you think carefully Hwee Teng, the Singaporeans' reactions were guided all the way back by VERY ANCIENT egotistical male views of the grooming of their women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And sadly, this male superiority, which is unfounded and unjustified unlike other types of legitimate and honorable male superiority as in the husband-wife relationship, has survived till this day!!!!!!!!
You have to curse the state of mankind!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Que Que Que lastima
Hey Hwee Teng,
ReplyDeleteI feel that the habit of Singaporean females removing armpit hair is more of a societal norm than a culture. It is they way people perceive beauty of women in this context.
However, this situation is one that is unfamiliar for Mei and it is really nice of you to explain to her the reason that she got weird stares from others. You provided her with a better understanding of the society that she is going to live in for a few years. She might not want to change her habit but at least she understands what is going on.
Cheers!
Hey HWee Teng!
ReplyDelete"I also advised her to either remove her armpit hair like normal girls in Singapore would"
This sentence is hilarious! Do you mean to say she is considered "abnormal"?
Jokes aside, I'm glad she was able to go to you directly, it takes such courage to do that. And applause to you too for being so frank with her (=
A good explanation here would probably be the difference in climate? Singapore has such hot and humid whether that I know of boys who remove their armpit hair for hygiene purposes as well.
Great post! (=
Hello all!
ReplyDeleteI think I made a terrible mistake by stereotyping in this post. Thanks to everyone for pointing that out! I must say that I racked my brains to think of something to write for this blog post but simply can't think of anything good to write. Oh well, I'll try harder for the next blog post! :D
Hwee Teng
Hey man,
ReplyDeleteDon't be guilty of stereotyping Hwee Teng, you needed to stereotype so that the post would be a great read. If you read every post by everybody, all of have contain some stereotype and I loved it all.
Cheers
I like this post, Hwee Teng. You clearly and concisely describe your hallmate Mei and her experience at the game. You also report well how you evaluated the cause of the stares at Mei and how you advised her in a gentle manner on the best means of adapting to the norms of the society she had joined. Stereotyping? Yes, but then there are certain stereotypes --such as the observation that "normal girls in Singapore shave their armpits -- that are indeed applicable.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post!
Mark: Thanks for the encouragement! :D
ReplyDeleteBrad: I was not confident of my post initially but I felt a boost in morale after reading your comment! Thanks! :D