‘How’s your work life balance’ is the question I get asked at every annual appraisal. It’s not a bad thing, for it signals the institution’s acknowledgment of academics’ wellbeing, but I question if it’s enough. Namely, is it enough if the institution only pays lip service but the actual practice of ensuring everyone who works […]
With most of us living our lives in limbo, disconnected and isolated from our usual social circles and support since the pandemic hit in early 2020, the arrival of vaccines signalled hope. In fact up until earlier this year, I was a firm believer that my state government — aware of its semi-autonomous position in […]
We need to talk about Trump’s popularity in Asia. I remember having a conversation with a female student four years ago, who had come into my office and noticed I was monitoring the US election results. She had casually asked who I supported, so I said Hilary Clinton. She made a face, so it prompted […]
“You are not working from home. You are at your home, during a crisis, trying to work“. I’ve seen this phrase being shared repeatedly on social media the last week or so, as a reminder that this is an unprecedented time we’re living through. And we shouldn’t be expecting for things to continue like normal; […]
I have issues with the term “people of colour”. I despise it. One problem is because it’s an American term that has been popularised and adapted into global acceptance, without as much as contextualising the differences in history, culture and language. It also comes loaded with American sensibilities, and with it, its conception of race. […]
I was recently asked if my current world was more racist or misogynistic. By default, I fell back to saying it was more racist, as I’ve reflected before, on how casually discriminatory and flippant people can be on racial and cultural differences. But over the course of time since the question was posed to me, […]
In the days leading up to the release of Crazy Rich Asians, I was fascinated by how the reviews were framing the film. There was plenty that remarked on how historically monumental it was, given its contemporary setting and all-Asian cast. Indeed it was. And yet, there were some that mused on the fantastical aspects […]