\n<\/p>\n
I would not have had the privilege of meeting them were it not for my own divorce.<\/p>\n
When I was ordered to go for mandatory counselling to help ex-spouses learn to co-parent post-divorce, I encountered a group of foreign spouses. Women who had their long-term visit passes cancelled by their ex-spouses and were on social visit passes sponsored by their lawyers, so that they could remain in Singapore to fight for their right to see their children.<\/p>\n
They had not met their children for a few years at that point. Visitations had been denied by their ex-spouses.<\/p>\n
I was incredulous. These women were going through pointless mandatory co-parenting sessions to be able to begin the legal process to gain access to their kids.<\/p>\n
I was upset at the lack of sensitivity, and at the end of a breakout session where we were supposed to be discussing how to be mindful not to compete with the other parent in Christmas gifting, I raised the point to the counsellor that these women had not seen their kids for two Christmases.<\/p>\n
The counsellor merely shrugged in resignation and continued with the session. It infuriated and saddened me deeply, but at the time, being buried in my own divorce proceedings, I had no capacity to help.<\/p>\n
This is why I have a second type of feminist inside me: the angry feminist.<\/p>\n
As a woman, a leader, a mother, a human being, I should be rightfully furious that we are still facing so many of these issues today.<\/p>\n
I make no apology if I am seen as an \u201cangry\u201d feminist when I speak up and bear my indignation that we are seeing these situations of inequality and gender violence today.<\/p>\n
If seeming \u2018angry\u2019 is what it takes to effect change, then I am proud to be an angry feminist.<\/p>\n
To be able to advocate for change in this arena, we do need sufficient fire in our bellies to point out the injustice that we see and gumption to engage with stakeholders for change.<\/p>\n
The founding mothers of AWARE were angry women \u2013 their anger betraying a love for their country and their fellow citizens, and a desire to create a more equal society where we could achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Look where we stand today because of their work. I hope the feminists reading this will come join me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n