SINGAPORE: After being kicked out by her own parents, a young woman took to social media to ask if such experiences were considered “normal” in Singaporean families.
In a post on r/SGexams, a Reddit forum, she shared that her parents had asked her to leave the house the previous day. While she chose not to disclose the reasons behind the incident, she said that this wasn’t the first time it had happened.
“Usually I go to my grandparents’ house, but this time was different,” she wrote.
She added that, in search of a place to stay, she had reached out to a friend for help. “I asked one of my friends if I could stay over at her place for a while; because of it, she seemed really shocked and asked me why or questioned if they were even allowed to do that,” she explained.
“I don’t think it’s common in SG…”
In the comments section, many Singaporeans expressed shock and concern, pointing out that being kicked out of one’s home, especially if the individual is still a minor, is highly unusual and unacceptable in Singapore.
One individual firmly stated, “NOT NORMAL AT ALL. If you’re under 21, your parents are still legally obliged to take care of you. Go down to the FSC when they reopen on Tuesday. In the meantime, call the ComCare hotline (1800-222-0000) and see what they can do for you. If you ever feel unsafe, go to the police or call them. Also report them to the National Anti-Violence Helpline; this definitely counts as neglect/abuse
Please take care and stay safe. Hope you manage to find a safe place to wait it out till it blows over.”
Another commented, “I don’t think it’s common in SG for people to get kicked out. Most of us don’t usually get forced to leave home. It’s more like I got my own place and chose to move out. Unless you’re 30+, I guess.”
A third added, “Getting kicked out as a punishment? Yes, but if they don’t fetch you after you know what you did wrong, then no, and seek help because it can be reported for family abuse regardless of your age.”
Where to seek help
According to Singapore Legal Advice, parents and legal guardians have a duty to care for their children and provide them with a safe and stable home until they turn 21. Forcing a child to leave without making sure they have a secure place to go can be considered a breach of this duty.
If you or someone you know has been kicked out, is facing abuse, or doesn’t have a safe place to stay, there is help available. You can call the National Anti-Violence Helpline (NAVH) at 1800-777-0000.
Read also: Man who saves S$2K/month says his wife told him it’s ‘too little’ and expects him to save more
Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)