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Straits Times
7 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Hear Me Out: Racism by a thousand microaggressions is a mixed-race kid's reality
Writer Sarah Stanley with her mother and father celebrating Christmas as a child. ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY Hear Me Out: Racism by a thousand microaggressions is a mixed-race kid's reality SINGAPORE – When I was 14, a schoolmate accused me of not being proud of my Indian heritage. At the time, I was too young to unpack the deeper implications of that statement. I replayed the moment repeatedly, wondering what I had done – or failed to do – to merit the verdict. Was it the times I chose to banter in Mandarin – my second language in school – during hangouts? Or that I voted to eat at a steamboat place instead of a prata restaurant? Or was it because I had never travelled to India before? In my adolescence, such criticism provoked more annoyance than deep thought. Today – 16 years after the fact – it seems more like my schoolmate's misconstrued observation of how mixed-race kids like myself negotiate identity in different social settings. Academics often describe the relationship between race and identity as 'complex', and typically agree that while race is a social construct undetermined by biological factors, it has a great impact on identity formation – a core part of being human. As a child of Indian-Chinese parentage, my upbringing was diverse. I grew up spending Saturdays at my Indian grandmother's house watching SunTV – a Tamil-language entertainment television channel – and eating my fill of rasam, a South Indian soup-like dish, and basmati rice. Sundays were spent at my Chinese grandmother's house quaffing liang cha, or herbal teas, and listening in on Hokkien conversations I could not fully understand. Writer Sarah Stanley (second from left) celebrates Chinese New Year as a child at her maternal grandmother's house with her cousins. ST PHOTO: COURTESY OF SARAH STANLEY For most part, this duality shaped how I learnt to observe and adapt to different social settings. But the richness of my childhood was also plagued by unsolicited comments, jokes tinged with casual racism and compliments that came with a sting. I've been called 'exotic' umpteen times in many ways – a backhanded compliment that exoticises difference while simultaneously 'othering' it. I've been told I am 'fair' and asked whether my father is 'South or North Indian' – a thinly veiled inquiry into his skin colour. Writer Sarah Stanley as a child with her father at the Singapore Zoo. ST PHOTO: COURTESY OF SARAH STANLEY I've heard far too many jokes – often in poor imitations of Chinese or Indian accents – followed by expectant stares, as if being mixed-race meant I should find these stereotypes amusing or at least familiar. And I've had both Chinese and Indian acquaintances make disparaging remarks about each other's communities, assuming that I would side with them, or that my partial affiliation granted them permission to share these with me. In these moments, I became acutely aware of how often mixed-race individuals are expected to either remain silent or become ambassadors for one half of their heritage – whichever half best suits the situation. Dr Amy Lim, discipline lead for psychology at Murdoch University Singapore, explains that people's psychology 'equips us with a remarkable capacity for cognitive frame-switching'. 'We subconsciously pick up contextual cues that tell us which identity should be 'in use' at the moment, helping us behave appropriately and feel like we belong,' she says, adding that mixed-race individuals often engage in an ongoing negotiation of identities. How biracial individuals perceive this tension – as conflicting or complementary – can shape confidence, creativity and our sense of belonging. Having more than one identity may offer a buffer, helping us navigate and resist stereotypes with greater psychological flexibility. Perhaps it was why in the recent General Election, when Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Gigene Wong called her running teammate Ariffin Sha 'keling kia' – now seen as a derogatory term used to demean people of Indian descent – I was outraged, but not overly offended. Dr Lim explains that stereotype threat – the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about your group – often impacts how you respond to racism. 'By shifting our self-salience towards an identity associated with more positive stereotypes, we activate a different set of expectations and self-beliefs,' she says. In other words, mixed-race individuals may instinctively lean on one part of their identity to cope with racial bias directed at another. In some ways, it explains how in that moment during the SDP rally, I may have subconsciously toggled between my Indian and Chinese identities – landing somewhere between empathy and indignation. People often say being biracial is an advantage. And while there is truth in that, my reality as a mixed-race millennial feels more complicated. I straddle two generations – the younger, increasingly vocal about the harms of casual racism; and the older, who grew up in a time when such linguistic nuances were rarely scrutinised. In mid-June, I turn 30 and at this point in my life, facing racial microaggressions is less of a struggle and more a daily exercise in empathy and calling out what needs to change. I don't laugh off racist jokes as often as I used to. And when the situation calls for it, I call out racist remarks out for what they are, even among friends. So, no, I was not ashamed of my Indian heritage at 14. I was simply trying to make room for all the parts of me in a world that kept asking me to pick a side. I have come to see that many of the comments and assumptions I faced weren't really about me – they were about others trying to make sense of difference using limited, often racialised frames. I don't think I ever really picked a side. And now, I don't think I ever will. Hear Me Out is a new series where young journalists (over)share on topics ranging from navigating friendships to self-loathing, and the occasional intrusive thought. Check out the Headstart chatbot for answers to your questions on careers and work trends.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Straits Times
Hear Me Out: Bring back gatekeeping – when everything is a hidden gem, nothing is any more
Anyone with a smartphone can make content out of every meal, tourist attraction or shopping haul – pushing us into a cycle of consuming, and then giving, the same few recommendations over and over again. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO Hear Me Out: Bring back gatekeeping – when everything is a hidden gem, nothing is any more SINGAPORE – What a difference a year makes to special places. For me, that place was a once-discreet flea market in Tokyo that, though huge , was frequented mostly by locals and avid thrifters who knew where to look and what to Google. In early 2024, I could still comfortably stroll the aisles, maintaining a wide berth between myself and the Japanese treasure hunters who had braved the commute for a bargain. The wares were good and the prices even better, and I left with three bags full of steals. So colour me horrified when, on my return in 2025, I showed up to hordes of tourists thronging the market, some dragging suitcases – presumably to source stock for their second-hand stores, a global trend which has ballooned in the past year. This time, I left with just a vintage watch. I knew exactly who to blame. TikTok, of course. Over the last year, I had noticed more foreign content creators making travel vlogs on Japan, recommending that very flea market and showing off their spoils in overzealous haul videos. 'Come with me to Tokyo's biggest flea market,' began each video in the same grating, unplaceable influencer accent. With every vocal fry, the lustre around this 'insider' market faded away. Ladies and gentlemen, we need to bring back good old gatekeeping. The term has taken on new life in the social media age to mean an intentional withholding of information or knowledge – usually applied to beauty products, good buys, food recommendations and the like. On the internet, gatekeeping is the mark of a woman who is not a 'girl's girl', because only the mean and spiteful would dare keep an underrated lipstick to herself. A few weeks back, American TikTok was in an uproar over a girl recounting how a well-dressed stranger at the Silverlake Flea in Los Angeles had refused to share where she bought her cowboy boots. The Internet split into two camps – one on a mission to dox this audacious gatekeeper; the other crowing another common online phrase: 'It's not that deep.' It really wasn't. But before you brush me off as entitled and self-centred, hear me out. Remember the good ol' days when people didn't all go to the same few places or buy the same things, and 'hidden gems' were authentic gems? In this era of content creation, TikTok has empowered anyone with a smartphone to make content out of every meal, tourist attraction or shopping haul – pushing us into a cycle of consuming, and then giving, the same few recommendations over and over again, and causing the masses to flood (and ruin) once exclusive, well-kept secrets. It is probably why we have ended up with a satirical obsession with 'hidden gems'. In a bid to find something worth highlighting, we may have taken the well-meaning Singaporean mantra of 'good things must share' too far. When everything is a hidden gem, nothing is any more. On a more macro scale, herd mentality may be exacerbating overtourism in popular destinations like Japan and Bali. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2024 was 36.87 million, a staggering figure its government is trying to counter by raising the tourist tax. Meanwhile, record numbers of tourists to Bali prompted the local government to launch a new tourism police unit in February 2024 to deal with problematic visitors. Herd mentality may be exacerbating overtourism in popular destinations like Japan. PHOTO: EPA-EFE I would also argue that the lack of gatekeeping is killing personal style. These days, travel guides to each city are outlined not by the human stories and culture of the place, but by a checklist of what to buy. In Seoul, it is Gentle Monster or Blue Elephant sunglasses, and any handbag from Marge Sherwood, Stand Oil or Osoi. In Shanghai, Songmont bags and To Summer perfume. Style trends have always had an iron grip on the masses, but at least in the past, they were not plastered online as must-buys. Social media has turned people into sheep who fear they are missing out if they go to Japan and don't leave with Onitsuka Tiger sneakers, or that they must all own the same pair of Miu Miu tortoiseshell glasses – even if the round frame is notoriously unflattering on most face shapes. The ability to rigorously research and consume social media within minutes is rewiring our ability to pause and practise critical thinking, and robbing us of independent thought. If 10 people on the internet say you 'have' to get something, they can't all be wrong – right? I won't lie. I had to pause a couple of times on my recent Tokyo trip to ask myself: Do I really want this? Or is it just because TikTok told me I should? It also takes away the mystique of self-discovery – whether shopping or travelling – and the rewarding feeling of stumbling upon something truly special by yourself. Dear reader, let us return to the age of word of mouth, where the best recs were traded only among family and friends, and the occasional acquaintance who asked nicely. After all, real 'it' girl status is in the IYKYK ('if you know, you know'). From Audrey Hepburn and Chloe Sevigny to Alexa Chung and Hailey Bieber , true 'it' girls don't go around shouting out their favourite brands or restaurants – unless they are paid to. You simply spot them photographed on the streets sporting various handbags or shoes, before going down a rabbit hole to find out which designers made them. To unpack it further, one could argue that un-gatekeeping is a by-product of capitalism. Brands want you to overshare and over-recommend. Pushing products on the internet in the name of not gatekeeping does not make it any more virtuous than dangling a promo code or affiliate link to the item. Good things must share, right? I am no monster and will gladly divulge a good hidden gem if asked with earnestness. But not everything needs to be publicly shared. In an era where so many things lose meaning as quickly as they gain them, a healthy amount of gatekeeping would leave us all better off. So, the next time you find yourself tempted to post about an item or place, or tag its location, maybe put the phone down. The dreamers and wanderers among us thank you. Hear Me Out is a new series where young journalists (over)share on topics ranging from navigating friendships to self-loathing, and the occasional intrusive thought. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Spotify's major free upgrade that transforms how users engage with the music app
Spotify is giving their avid users a new way to enjoy content - here's all you need to know. Spotify is mainly associated with allowing users to listen to music and podcasts, with subscribers having the added bonus of not having to listen to ads after every couple of songs. However, things are about to get even better for regular users as the streaming provider is launching a new upgrade. The Spotify app is about to get a boost thanks to Channel 4, who is adding some of their programmes onto the platform. This means Spotify users will be able to watch a wide range of video content from the broadcaster all within the popular music app. It is said that the update - dubbed Channel 4.0 - will deliver content aimed at 13 to 24-year-olds. Some of the content that is set to be viewed on Spotify includes Minor Issues (Wall of Entertainment), Hear Me Out (After Party Studios) and Secret Sauce (Acme Films & Wall of Entertainment). What makes this upgrade even better is that these TV shows will come at no additional cost to users, reports the Express. Channel 4 has confirmed that the content upgrade will be available to users from later on this week through the Spotify smartphone and desktop app. The popular TV broadcaster is no stranger to releasing new video updates, as much of its content can already be found on apps such as Snapchat and TikTok, where Channel 4 launched TV programming on each platform back in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Speaking about the changes, Alex Mahon, Channel 4 CEO, said: 'Gen Z are watching video across lots of digital platforms as well as on Channel 4 heartland ones and Spotify is very much one of the new, so that's where we're going. "This new first of its kind approach puts Channel 4 content in another place where people already are. "It is another first from Channel 4 and is on course with our Fast Forward strategy to grow new audiences and fresh revenue. We've always led the pack on digital – and we're doing it again.' Following this, Roman Wasenmüller, VP of Spotify's Podcast Business, added: 'We see Spotify as a powerful tool for broadcasters like Channel 4 to connect with new and loyal audiences. "Video consumption is growing rapidly on Spotify, and our platform provides the perfect space for Channel 4 to extend its reach, build even stronger relationships with their audience, and drive incremental revenues." This upgrade, aimed at teenagers to young adults, includes content from creators that are rooted in youth culture. Channel 4 has already seen exceptional growth after launching this brand of content in 2022, with viewing across all platforms said to be up 99 per cent last year. In addition to adding content to short-form video platforms, Channel 4 became the first UK broadcaster to strike a landmark deal to distribute long-form content on Youtube in 2022. It is not surprising that Spotify is the next platform to partner with Channel 4 as the app has such a large audience. Globally, there are around 170million monthly podcast listeners on Spotify, which is 12 times the amount in 2019. Additionally, videos have also seen a quick rise on the music app, with video podcast consumption in the UK said to be up more than 95 per cent year on year. For those wanting to tune in to Channel 4's content on Spotify, the upgrade should be arriving at some point this week. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Business Mayor
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Your Spotify app just got a blockbuster free upgrade – here's what's new
If you happen to subscribe to Spotify there's good news. This popular music app is getting a boost thanks to Channel 4 adding some of its programmes to the platform. It means that you'll now be able to watch a swathe of video content from the UK telly provider right within the Spotify app itself. The update – which is called Channel 4.0 – will serve up content aimed at 13–24-year-olds. Shows coming to Spotify at launch include Minor Issues (Wall of Entertainment) , Hear Me Out (After Party Studios) and Secret Sauce (Acme Films & Wall of Entertainment) . These can all be viewed for free so there's no need to start reaching for the credit card. Fancy tuning in? You will find this blockbuster boost via the Spotify smartphone and desktop app with Channel 4 confirming the upgrade will become available to audiences from later this week. Channel 4 is, of course, no stranger to releasing video updates with its content already available in apps such as Snapchat and TikTok. Speaking about the changes, Alex Mahon, Channel 4 CEO, said: 'Gen Z are watching video across lots of digital platforms as well as on Channel 4 heartland ones and Spotify is very much one of the new, so that's where we're going. 'This new first of its kind approach puts Channel 4 content in another place where people already are. It is another first from Channel 4 and is on course with our Fast Forward strategy to grow new audiences and fresh revenue. We've always led the pack on digital – and we're doing it again.' Read More CrowdStrike to improve testing after 'bug' caused outage And Roman Wasenmüller, VP of Spotify's Podcast Business, added: 'We see Spotify as a powerful tool for broadcasters like Channel 4 to connect with new and loyal audiences. Video consumption is growing rapidly on Spotify, and our platform provides the perfect space for Channel 4 to extend its reach, build even stronger relationships with their audience, and drive incremental revenues.' READ SOURCE
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Forum: Do more for those with different learning needs
Forum: Do more for those with different learning needs The article 'Hear Me Out: Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult left me feeling angry and betrayed' (May 4) highlighted the anguish of many neurodivergent adults, children, and their parents. There have been many calls to relook the education system and class size in our schools, but another important aspect is the capability and capacity of our education system to provide a more supportive and empowering approach to students with different learning needs at all levels. As a First World country that takes pride in its education system, we cannot continue to neglect the needs and potential of neurodivergent learners with different learning needs. Our education system needs to be more enlightened and equipped to recognise these learners, and be able to better support their learning and education in schools, as not all of them need to be in special education schools. Going by global trends and statistics on the prevalence of the various learning conditions such as ADHD, mild autism spectrum disorder , dyslexia, and borderline intellectual disability, just to name a few conditions that are in our mainstream schools, the numbers would be significant enough for us to take a more concerted effort to do better. Imagine the mental health effect, number of lives impacted, and the potential lost in Singapore, where people are our only resource, if we do not adequately plug this gap. Quek Hong Choon More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
