this is what inequality looks like meritocracy
The term “meritocracy” has been thrown around a bit lately in discussions of income inequality and social mobility. What a Solidarity Economy Looks Like from Boston Review. . Suggested Citation:
It’s worth asking what an alleged meritocracy would … Smudges in the sparkling sheen that Singapore tries to portray may oddly endear it to the rest of Southeast Asia, as it is turns out that the island-state is not very different after all. Another MP referenced her book in an opinion piece on the government’s promotion of self-reliance—a topic that Teo herself dissects and illustrates as she chronicles the lives of those who do everything they can to not ask for help. But in another way it is simple: inequality, discrimination and authoritarianism are repulsive. This is a 'desired' outcome of our education; but it upholds a system that makes inequality an inevitability. This Is What Inequality Looks Like was one of the bestselling nonfiction books of 2018. . The book This is What Inequality Looks Like (henceforth referred to as “TIWILL”), written by the sociologist Teo You Yenn, has gained widespread acclaim. / Meritocracy enhances the elite’s power to resist the state. It has sold 25,000 copies to date. It exposes a side of Singapore that is seldom seen in public: ordinary people struggling to make ends meet, those who may have fallen through the cracks in a society that prizes meritocracy, self-reliance and individualized welfare assistance. Once Americans learn that that have misplaced confidence in their system being a meritocracy, this should lead to Americans becoming less tolerant of high inequality. . Conventional tropes of meritocracy and social mobility need to be examined with a critical yet empathetic eye. . Meritocracy is a system of allocating rewards via competitions and incentive structures, underpinned by a principle of equality. . To be fair, the discussion of inequality has been all the rage in Singapore recently. . “Acknowledging poverty and inequality leads to uncomfortable revelations about our society and ourselves.” In a brilliant piece of cover design, the word “inequality” is obscured, visually reinforcing Teo’s message: inequality may be right under our … Meritocracy: A Dream, A Promise, And A Double-Edged Sword. In recent years, we have been focussed on two problems, social mobility and income inequality, and the place these issues appear to meet is higher … In the meantime, as Teo robustly concludes, we need to harness the values, beliefs, habits and aspirations that she believes exists within us as a nation to ensure that inequality can be refused and dignity restored. In This is What Inequality Looks Like, Teo You Yenn writes a moving collection of essays that shine the light on a reality long swept under the carpets of gleaming, green and glamourous Singapore. Hence, rendering them invisible to us. Despite President Bolsonaro's COVID-19 denialism, a small Brazilian city has one of the most ambitious responses in the world. In a sense, meritocracy ensures that people deserve the outcomes (both good and bad) that they get. This is What Inequality Looks Like--Step 1: Disrupt the Narrative Youyenn Teo surprising revelation.When I speak with people who are not from Singapore, one of the things that comes up is how small it … Perceptions attributed to petty folk beliefs of “race”, which are discussed in an additional epilogue, need to be discarded. It has sold 25,000 copies to date. Teo says early in the book that inequality is the logical outcome of meritocracy. This Is What Inequality Looks Like Quotes Showing 1-30 of 49 “Inequality, in fact, is a logical outcome of meritocracy. It can be applied to so many factors, for one thing. In an ideal world, “dignity doesn’t have an expiration date attached to economic productivity. Teo’s revelation of a rough underbelly makes the nation seem more “normal” in the eyes of the region. © Copyright 2021 New Mandala | Web Design: Code and Visual, growing numbers of millionaires every year, in an opinion piece on the government’s promotion of self-reliance, placed at number 149 out of 157 countries, my experiences across the border in poor rural Malaysian communities, CORAL BELL SCHOOL OF ASIA PACIFIC AFFAIRS. Responses ranged from those who are surprised that poverty exists in swanky Singapore, to those who trivialise the plight of the people she describes, or deny their existence. This community is common in other parts of grossly poor Southeast Asia, and a stark contrast to hollow top-down orchestrations to engender a kampung (village) collective in many owner-occupied constituencies. In This is What Inequality Looks Like, Teo You Yenn writes a moving collection of essays that shine the light on a reality long swept under the carpets of gleaming, green and glamourous Singapore. In the home of Crazy Rich Asians , statistics that indicate growing numbers of millionaires every year conceal the lived realities of those who fall through the cracks and are barely acknowledged. Narratives and numbers like these make it seem that college admissions is dominated by nepotism and outright corruption rather than merit. Teo points out that this is because of the futility these families face in their appeals for assistance, and how the process erases any last shreds of dignity that they held. The book This is What Inequality Looks Like (henceforth referred to as “TIWILL”), written by the sociologist Teo You Yenn, has gained widespread acclaim. 13 Dec, 2018. She draws a sharp comparison between this oppressive negativity and the cheerful ambience and positive messaging of owner-occupied blocks—just one example of what inequality looks like. The author challenged us to think about our privileges and what can be done It is a book that needs to be read by all Singaporeans. . Inequality is often entrenched and inherited.2 High quality education, access ... development, many like Lee Kuan Yew were in no doubt it simply meant the best educated, those with the best degrees ... the paper looks at the question of how meritocracy is defined, and then reviews findings from But they are made invisible by the roles that they play and denied a presence by wilful or unintentional blindness on the part of many who benefit from their services. It cannot tell you about the lived reality of those who live with the constant anxiety of precarity, or what it’s like to bear constant indignities. Working among every other Singaporean are those for whom a rental unit is a step up from homelessness; where the “typical” trajectory of finishing school, getting married, buying a home and having children (p80) is either out of reach or follows a different order. . “Normalcy” is defined by the mainstream majority. Teo describes the run-down clusters of rental units she spent many hours visiting, hidden between internationally-acclaimed high-rise government apartments, yet a world apart. ; Contract Law and Legal Methods, 2012, etc. In a poignant concluding chapter, Teo peels back the layers of a wound as she recollects the reactions to her work over the years. . It is her long study and thorough understanding of the policies and institutional systems that compound the difficulties of these lower-income citizens that make this book a powerful commentary. This Is What Inequality Looks Like is a collection of essays on inequality/social classes/poverty in Singapore. Nationalistic tendencies and the discomfort of discussing the ugly realities of those who have always remained hidden need to be overcome. This chapter (p225) exemplifies the narratives and blind spots that we have perpetuated both to the world and ourselves. She asks that the middle and upper class majority in Singapore understand the consequences of their decisions and actions and how they inadvertently enhance the inequality and indignity faced by some fellow citizens. This page was processed by aws-apollo5 in. Book: This is What Inequality Looks Like NTU Sociology professor published a book on poverty and inequality in Singapore and it has been a bestseller. But what does it mean to “deserve” something? Functionalist theorists believe that inequality is inevitable and desirable and plays an important function in society. The neighbourhood and lived reality of those who can just barely afford to rent are a world far beyond the imagination (if at all contemplated) by the average Singaporean—and deemed “inferior” and “problematic” (p29). This page was processed by aws-apollo5 in 0.170 seconds, Using these links will ensure access to this page indefinitely. . Meritocracy, opportunity and social mobility are regularly invoked as the answer to inequality. The narrative that their issues are “are an exception” (p196) needs to be disrupted so that the search for solutions becomes a national effort. Conventional tropes of meritocracy and social mobility need to be examined with a critical yet empathetic eye. This is What Inequality Looks Like has clearly raised the blinds on a topic once hidden far out of sight. The term “meritocracy” was coined by sociologist Michael Young in his 1958 satire, The Rise of Meritocracy. Young’s book was ostensibly an analysis written in 2033 by a historian looking back at … . . In this way, meritocracy directly produces a new means for undermining democratic self-government. Teo shows us that the mainstream caricature of those who “deviate” from societal “norms” are far from accurate. Beyond the link between poverty and inequality, Teo deftly weaves in the importance of dignity and illustrates how there is a distinct lack of social justice in the treatment of the very poor where “every day is a struggle with (in)dignity” (p194). You Yenn is recipient of NTU’s Nanyang Education Award (2013) and the American Sociological Association Sex and Gender Section’s Feminist Scholar Activist Award (2016). . Specifically, it has been considered a “masterfully crafted text”, “probably the year’s single most valuable intervention in Singapore’s public discourse, in any medium”, and one that challenges the dominant state narrative regarding social policy (George, 2018; Sinha, 2018).Teo’s book is consciously anti-establishment and seeks to “disrupt the narrative” (Teo, 2018). In May 2018, a Channel News Asia documentary hosted by a member of parliament, Regardless of Class, examined Singapore’s social divisions but was met and countered by netizens and online portals for its lack of the sort of analysis that Teo lays out in her book. The poorest citizens of the nation need to be embraced into the mainstream and their struggles surfaced as national priorities. Pro-tip: he was satirizing meritocracy, and was not happy that his work led to the popularization of the idea as a positive political philosophy. Social inequality and social stratification, according to this view, lead to a meritocracy based on ability. To learn more, visit our Cookies page. . . Only then can Singapore truly declare itself a first world nation. We talk a lot about protecting our meritocracy and … While she lays bare the processes that prevent many of them from moving out of the cycle of poverty, she appeals for awareness, and even empathy—as much needs to be done to review and revise some of the structures that trap the lowest segments of the population into immobility. She shows that current policies are inadequate and require reform. . She describes them as zones “marked not only by the visual but also something quite primal and physical” (p46). It is a book that needs to be read by all Singaporeans. Now in its 4th edition, The Meritocracy Myth remains a necessary and welcome addition to the syllabus of courses on social inequality. Yet children are taught every day in curriculum infused with National Education that we Singaporeans 'must uphold meritocracy'. Public intellectuals have acknowledged it the 2018 “Book of the Year”, and it has ranked among the top non-fiction best sellers in local Singaporean bookstores (Singapore Unbound 2018). Suggested Citation, Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic, Comparative Political Economy: Comparative Capitalism eJournal, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content.By continuing, you agree to the use of cookies. . It feels different from what we have” (p221). Like so many phenomena, meritocracy was named by an enemy. Photo: Dickson Phua on Flickr, Creative Commons, nm REVIEWER: Serina Rahman Important positions in society require more training and thus should receive more rewards. As she closes her book, Teo invites her readers to consider how their lives can be understood from the perspectives that she has presented. There’s income inequality, asset inequality, gender inequality, social, class, political … you name it, someone, somewhere likely feels (and is) hard done by. The stories on these pages are not a mere dry academic dissertation on poverty. . Sometimes it is the most basic and subtle of differences that have the most impact. More tellingly is the reaction of one particular audience member who chastises her for publicly going against the great “Singapore Story” and “airing dirty laundry” to an international audience. In her wonderful ethnographic study on inequality and poverty titled ‘This is What Inequality Looks Like’, Teo You Yenn describes her experiences as a parent enrolling her six-year-old daughter into primary school and “ [gaining] entry into a world of intensive parenting” — joining a WhatsApp chat group with other parents, engaging with teachers on subjects that children were weak at and worrying over … In a nutshell, the book is a collection of essays where she ultimately argues that inequality in Singapore is systemic and that we have to change existing systems so that we can reduce inequality here. This is What Inequality Looks Like has clearly raised the blinds on a topic once hidden far out of sight. “Stories about poverty and inequality create a lot of discomfort,” writes Teo You Yenn in her startling non-fiction debut, This is What Inequality Looks Like. . Cheang, Bryan, This is What Inequality Looks Like, by Teo You Yenn (March 29, 2019). . . For me personally, this book is a breath of fresh air that resonates vividly with my experiences across the border in poor rural Malaysian communities. This is What Inequality Looks Like is a refreshing, provocative, eye-opening book that is written with passion and insight. . This means that Fact 1 was a mistaken belief -- that is to say, Americans are mistaken in believing that their society rewards those with talent and effort more than other countries. . Teo makes it clear that members of Singapore’s bottom percentiles are not tucked away and alienated from the island’s daily hustle and bustle. She does not mean to ghettoise these homes, but she pinpoints for the reader the details that make the difference: the ubiquitous presence of police and narcotics officers, as well as loan shark and crime notices. It should be a quest bred on a sense of responsibility and morality; of helping one of our own—simply because we can. Teo writes candidly accessible tales of real people and relationships, encountered and made familiar over years of academic fieldwork. It challenges the incumbent People action Party (PAP) government’s narrative and approach towards social policy. If nothing else, then, Teo’s book has already succeeded in taking the debate on inequality in Singapore out from behind closed doors. . Deon. An essay on hard work and inequality. . Asian Journal of Public Affairs (2019), Available at SSRN: If you need immediate assistance, call 877-SSRNHelp (877 777 6435) in the United States, or +1 212 448 2500 outside of the United States, 8:30AM to 6:00PM U.S. Eastern, Monday - Friday. . At a recent conference I attended, a scholar mentioned that while Singapore leads ASEAN this year, the rest of the region seems to look at the island with some disdain. Inequality is a complicated term. . Public intellectuals have acknowledged it the 2018 “Book of the Year”, and it has ranked among the top non-fiction best sellers in local Singaporean bookstores (Singapore Unbound 2018). Thus Teo You Yenn traces the arc of her intellectual journey in writing “an ethnography of inequality rather than a catalog of poverty” in This Is What Inequality Looks Like—a journey which she invites us to make with her, on our own, and with others. “Low-income persons are in reality highly present in most Singaporean’s everyday lives… when we say we cannot see poverty in Singapore, it is partly because its manifestations are masked and partly because we do not look” (pp192–193). Meritocratic inequality creates incentives for the most skilled workers to grow rich by devoting themselves to defending still richer people’s fortunes against government encroachment. Lee Kuan Yew isn't to blame if Singapore's political class can't let go of him. These communities that she has grown to appreciate comprise hard-working, self-reliant, family-centric citizens that not only actively contribute to Singapore’s economy but constantly strive to improve their lot in life. . What the education system does when it selects, sorts, and hierarchizes, and when it gives its stamp of approval to those 'at the top,' is that it renders those who succeed through the system as legitimately deserving. David J. Maume I don’t think there is a competitor that accomplishes what this book does—summarize the sociology of inequality in a clear, interesting, and succinct-yet-thorough fashion. It affirms the worth of personhood. Moreover, she shatters the popular image of Singapore as a place of affluent prosperity by uncovering the hidden realities of under-privilege. 01 December, 2017. In Teo You Yenn’s This is What Inequality Looks Like , the dominant way of understanding social inequality, as well as the many myths usually shored up in such a discussion, are tackled with empathy and astute analysis. We seem to think that poverty isn't as prevalent in Singapore since most low-income persons could apply for rental flats. In chapter one from the bestselling This Is What Inequality Looks Like (Ethos Books), Teo You Yenn details why tackling inequality seriously demands that we change how we think about success—both success as a nation, and the success of those who thrive under "meritocracy". . Because the ideology of the meritocracy reduces all success to narrow measures of intelligence, or of money (which to the elite looks like intelligence rewarded in the marketplace), those at the top become extremely anxious about even the minutest differences among themselves. Cherian George In the home of Crazy Rich Asians, statistics that indicate growing numbers of millionaires every year conceal the lived realities of those who fall through the cracks and are barely acknowledged. The problem of poverty in Singapore should not be one “of the ‘other’” (p250). Markovits (Law/Yale Univ. Highly readable and accessible, it will make for stimulating reading for anyone interested in the problems of poverty and inequality in and beyond Singapore. Abstract. . Meritocracy in America Ever higher society, ... Income inequality is growing to levels not seen since the Gilded Age, around the 1880s. Through Teo we experience the warmth, generosity and hospitality of low income families who genuinely come together to help each other in the most difficult of times, whose kindness to those who have less than themselves belie the struggles that they face.