Living in a Diverse Society - Key Concepts and Terms

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key terms, policies, and concepts related to diversity, socio-cultural harmony, and socio-economic approaches.

Race

The biological classification of people which includes their physical characteristics.

Ethnicity

The culture of a group of people who share the same ancestry, customs, and traditions that distinguish them from other groups in society.

CMIO Categorisation

A framework in Singapore representing Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others, used to make decisions regarding policies related to race and ethnicity.

Religion

One's beliefs, values, practices, and ways of life, usually involving the worship of god/s and narratives explaining the origins and meaning of life.

Socio-economic Status

The economic status shared by a group of people in society, measured using a combination of social and economic factors including income, education, occupation, and housing.

Social Mobility

An individual's movement across socio-economic positions, whether upward or downward.

Nationality

Refers to belonging to a particular country, uniting citizens who live together in a geographical area and share a common history, language, and experiences.

Common Spaces

Physical locations or social spaces where different groups of people can interact, cooperate, or collaborate on projects to forge ties and shared memories.

Racial and Religious Harmony Circles

Local-level inter-faith platforms in every constituency in Singapore that promote harmony, build trust across communities, and respond to inter-racial or inter-religious incidents.

People's Association

A grassroots organisation established in 1960 in Singapore to promote social cohesion and multiracialism through Community Centres, Community Development Councils, and community programs.

Cultural Exchange

The process where people share their ideas, customs, and traditions with others of different backgrounds, fostering appreciation and leading to a fusion of cultures.

Cultural Appropriation

The use of language, culture, music, dance, or clothing from a culture without permission, acknowledgement, or sensitivity.

Stereotypes

Generalised beliefs about a particular group of people.

Prejudice

Attitudes or feelings towards other groups that are not based on reason or fact, but rather on stereotypes, assumptions, unverified beliefs, or unjustified feelings.

Discrimination

Speech or action that hurts or excludes a specific group of people, resulting from stereotypes and prejudice.

Assimilation

A policy approach to diversity where immigrants are required to learn the national language and fully adopt the social and cultural practices of the host community to become similar, placing primary responsibility on the immigrants.

Laïcité

The principle of state secularism in France that strictly separates religious affairs from public governance and state institutions.

French Headscarf Ban (Law 2004-228)

A 2004 French law that strictly prohibits public school students from wearing conspicuous religious symbols or clothing, such as hijabs, kippahs, or large crosses, in state primary and secondary schools.

Integration

An approach to diversity where immigrants retain their cultural and religious identities while forging common ground with the host society, sharing the responsibility of building a cohesive community.

National Integration Council (NIC)

An organization established in 2009 by MCCY in Singapore to fund community programs, build interaction spaces, and promote social integration among citizens, PRs, and immigrants.

Government-Financed Approach

A welfare model (as seen in Sweden) where social services like healthcare, education, and housing are publicly funded and provided universally to all citizens, funded through high direct and indirect taxes.

Shared-Responsibility Approach

A policy framework (as seen in Singapore) where individuals, families, community groups, and the government share the responsibility for social needs, offering targeted assistance based on individual circumstances.

CPF MediSave Scheme

A Singaporean healthcare savings scheme where workers contribute a portion of their wages into a dedicated account to pay for their own and their dependents' healthcare needs.

MediFund

A safety-net fund in Singapore that provides financial aid to patients who are unable to afford their subsidised medical bills despite using MediSave and MediShield Life.

Welcome In My Backyard (WIMBY)

A ground-up community movement launched in April 2020 in Singapore to organize volunteers, counter NIMBY prejudices, and facilitate socio-cultural integration for migrant workers.