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The battle for gender equality has to come home to roost

Nearly 60 years after the Women's Charter emancipated women in Singapore, giving them equal opportunity in school and at the workplace, it's time for gender equality to return where it really matters - the home

ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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On Feb 15, 1959, the seeds of gender equality in Singapore were sown at the fields of Hong Lim Green. The People's Action Party (PAP) had kicked off a series of pre-election roadshows on the windy and rainy day to explain the party's programmes and policies.

Then party chairman Toh Chin Chye said to people gathered at the field that the party stood for "equality of opportunity for education and employment to all Singapore citizens".

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 24, 2020, with the headline The battle for gender equality has to come home to roost. Subscribe