The Impact of Singapore's Mandatory Conscription on Adolescent Perception of Masculinities

Abstract

Established in 1967 by the National Service (Amendment) Bill, National Service (NS) makes it compulsory for most young Singaporean males to enlist in the armed forces, typically for a two-year period. NS comes at a critical juncture in most Singaporean mens’ adolescence, disrupting their lives and isolating them in a foreign environment just as they are beginning to form a firm sense of identity. Recruits are expected to go through grueling training and endure harsh scoldings to prove their worth as both soldiers and men. Through an interview with 14 individuals who have served or are serving NS, it is found that the hegemonic masculinity present in NS relies on norms of strength, leadership, and suppression of emotion. However, its impact on enlistees is inconsistent, and dependent on one’s vocation, personal encounters, and expectations prior to enlisting.

Citation

Loh, A. (2023), "The Impact of Singapore's Mandatory Conscription on Adolescent Perception of Masculinities", Isidório, M.S. and Bass, L.E. (Ed.) The Social Construction of Adolescence in Contemporaneity (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Vol. 31), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 87-106. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1537-466120230000031007