Singlehood : the paradoxes of love and economy in Singapore.

The aim of this study is to examine why, despite social policies and initiatives implemented by the state and the Social Development Network (SDN) to promote marriages and family, singlehood rates have continued to persist or even rise over the past decade. Using what Liow (2011) proposes as neoliberal governmentality, I seek to understand the relations between state and society, focusing in particular on singles. Through my in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 single heterosexual working professionals, of whom are the intended targets of these governmental initiatives, I shall expound on their perceptions of and negotiations with the state’s intervention in what is typically viewed as a private aspect of the citizens’ lives.Bachelor of Art