Recently, a Singaporean influencer sparked a heated debate about class inequality in Singapore with a short video she posted on Instagram. The video, which showed her carrying a tote bag from Charles & Keith, a mid-luxury brand in Singapore, quickly went viral.
The video was posted in response to a viral video featuring a Singaporean mother carrying a budget bag from Daiso. It quickly garnered a wide range of reactions, from those who were proud of the mother for representing the working class to those who felt that she was being “ashamed” of her own budget bag.
The influencer’s video was seen as an attempt to “even the playing field” and show that one does not have to “settle” for a budget bag, as the stigma surrounding them had led some people to believe. However, her video stirred up controversy, as some questioned her choice to flaunt a luxury bag while others, including those from the working class, felt “attacked” and “invisible.”
The conversation quickly spread beyond the confines of social media, leading to a wider debate about class inequality in Singapore. It highlighted the stark differences between the haves and have-nots, with more and more Singaporeans expressing their concerns about rising inequality.
The debate also raised questions about Singapore’s education system, which is often seen as a key factor in the country’s class divide. The lack of quality education and job opportunities in Singapore’s poorer neighborhoods is seen as one of the main reasons why inequality is so high in the city-state.
At the same time, there are those who argue that the debate is based on false premises and that it is wrong to assume that only those who can afford luxury items are successful. They point out that success is not measured by the brand of bag one carries.
The debate sparked by the influencer’s video clearly shows just how sensitive the issue of class inequality is in Singapore. Although the debate is likely to continue for some time, it is important to remember that it has opened up an important conversation about the issue.