Amanda Chong
LAWYER, POET, CO-FOUNDER OF READABLE
In celebration of International Women's Day, we asked Amanda what inspires her to find the strength in her voice to challenge the things we see and do around us.
What do you #ChooseToChallenge?
I.e. if there’s one thing you fight for on an everyday basis, what is it?
Social inequality is the issue that Singapore must reckon with seriously in our generation. I’ve come to realise that inequality is not just an issue of economics, but a deeply emotional issue — it is feeling like you are not part of Singapore’s story of prosperity and that you lack agency to change the outcome of your own story. We need to build bridges back into under-served communities, in order to lessen this feeling of alienation. Who we are as a country and the values we stand for are revealed in the way we treat the most vulnerable amongst us.
What can women do everyday to make the future a better place for women?
We need to be conscious that our feminism isn’t just a space for privileged women with professional careers. We should think critically about how other women may be disadvantaged by power structures that we benefit from. If privileged women are invested in walking alongside women of different socio-economic status in friendship, it can be incredibly empowering for both parties. I’ve seen some of my girlfriends work with talented mothers in our ReadAble community to set up home-based food businesses through #ProjectCookoh. Another friend teaches Tamil-speaking domestic workers English through @womenofshakti.sg.
"Be patient with discomfort and unanswered questions. As we keep our hearts open, we may find ourselves gradually living our way to the answers."
What is one message you want to send out to younger women?
Act from a place of conviction of your own values and not for any external validation or the applause of any audience. Too often, we try to please everyone in the way we lead our lives, which tends to feel soul-sapping after a while. We’ve got to be anchored to a deeper sense of purpose.
What is one piece of life advice you have to give to our #LBCommunity?
To be patient with discomfort and unanswered questions. As we keep our hearts open, we may find ourselves gradually living our way to the answers.
