Women's empowerment for socioeconomic sustainable development in Singapore

Abstract

Multiple studies essentially state that women's empowerment and sustainable development are closely interrelated. Empowering women possibly increases women's political leadership ability, which may have a direct or indirect impact on sustainable development. In the case of Singapore, it finds distinction in defining the linkage between women's political participation and sustainable development. This paper provides a three-dimensional model of women's empowerment and limits the data set in 1990-2019 to find how women's participation in politics contribute to the economic and social development in Singapore. Using a qualitative method, this study finds that women's participation in parliament has not affected the improvement of health expenditure, labor force participation, and GDP per capita. It is due to restrictions on the rights, responsibilities, activities, access, and control between men and women (gender inequality) who are intentionally constructed through education systems, economic and political systems, legislation, culture, and traditions.