Singapore

Singapore is a small island nation-state with a population of close to 5 million people. It is a former British colony that gained its independence in 1965. Singapore is a multiethnic and multireligious society: the three major ethnic groups are Chinese (75 percent), Malay (13 percent), and Indians (9 percent). The country has four official languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. English is the language of administration and commerce and is widely spoken all over the island. Commonly described as one of the “Asian Tigers” or “Little Dragons,” Singapore is among the Asian “miracle economies” that transformed from “Third World” to “First World” in 30 years. It has one of the highest gross domestic products in the world, and its major industries are electronics, financial services, petroleum refining, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. State power is extremely strong, and the government has been controlled by the People's Action Party since gaining its independence from Britain.

At first glance, Singaporean women appear to enjoy a high level of autonomy, independence, and state protection. This level of protection comes from the groundbreaking Women's Charter, a bill passed in 1961 that legalized important civil and social rights for the nation's women. The Woman's Charter outlawed polygamy and legally allowed women to own property, stand for public office, conduct business in their own names, and participate in all forms of social, economic and political activity.

Singaporean women receive high levels of education and form 42.1 percent of all economically active residents. All women receive at least 10 years of mandatory education, and Singaporean women comprise 53.1 percent of university graduates. The nation's women are strongly encouraged to participate in the country's workforce. Since the 1970s, the government has made several attempts to entice mothers to return to work after they have given birth.