Through the Class Lens - Caregiving for Elderly Parents in Singapore

Tied closely to the phenomenon of ageing population but less visible are the expanding group of caregivers whose lives are thrown into disarray when an elderly member requires more attention due to illness or old age. Providing care for an older adult can be challenging for anyone, with strains on work-family life. Burdens that arise out of caregiving duties tend to fall greatly on lower-income women. Thus, this paper examines the disparities in the challenges that women across class lines experience in the caregiving process. Specifically, this study explores how one’s social class position influences the choices that caregivers make in the arrangement of eldercare. This study does not simply focus on individuals’ values on filial piety and how it translate into the actual practice of caregiving. It also underlines the external forces such as the state’s model of welfare that affects the individual’s construction of familism ideals and practices.Bachelor of Art