What this lesson teaches
I can explain how a sense of identity shapes what being a citizen means to a person.
Syllabus K230, Issue 1, Guiding Question 1. A sense of identity
Make a guess
Singaporeans come from many races and religions. What do you think gives them a shared sense of identity?
- Holding the same passport, since identity is a legal matter.
- Having the same culture, religion and opinions as one another on most issues.
- Shared experiences such as school, National Service and National Day each year.
Show the answer
Shared experiences such as school, National Service and National Day each year.
Common experiences and relationships connect people to the country, while they keep their different cultures and views.
A sense of identity is how you see who you are and where you belong. Shared experiences and relationships connect people to a country.
Your identity is how you see yourself and where you feel you belong. For many people, a country feels like home because of family, friends, memories, shared experiences and hopes for its future. This gives citizenship a personal meaning, not just a legal one.
Belonging changes how people act. Someone who feels part of a community may care about neighbours they have never met. They see them as part of the same society.
Shared experiences build a common identity. In Singapore, these include going through the same schools, National Service and celebrating National Day together.
A shared identity does not mean everyone is the same. People can feel Singaporean while having different cultures, religions and opinions. You can also hold several identities at once, such as Singaporean, student and member of your religious community.
Judge belonging from what the person says or does about their own attachment. A favourite dish, a festival photo or an accent cannot show someone's legal status or how strongly they belong. Missing one event does not show that someone feels no connection.
Three Singapore examples show how shared experiences work. National Service began on 17 August 1967, when the first batch of young men was enlisted. Since then, more than a million men have served, so most families share the experience. The National Day Parade on 9 August brings people together to celebrate the nation's birthday. Hawker centres are places where people of every race and income eat side by side. In December 2020, UNESCO added Singapore's hawker culture to its list of the world's intangible cultural heritage.
- Identity
- How a person sees who they are and where they belong.
- Shared experiences
- Common events, such as school or National Service, that build a sense of belonging.
- Multiple identities
- A person can be Singaporean, a student and part of a community at the same time.
Real examples to use
National Service, from 1967
The first batch was enlisted on 17 August 1967, and over a million men have served since. Use it for a shared experience across races and incomes that builds a sense of identity.
National Day Parade
Held each year around 9 August, the nation's birthday. Use it for a shared celebration that connects citizens to the country.
Hawker culture, UNESCO 2020
Added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in December 2020. Use it for an everyday shared space and food culture that many Singaporeans see as part of who they are.
Worked example: Two ways to feel at home
One resident says: "I missed the neighbours who helped raise me." Another says: "I moved here recently, but helping at local projects made this place feel like home."
- The first resident's belonging comes from long relationships.
- The second resident's belonging comes from new shared experiences. We can infer that working with neighbours on local projects helped this place feel like home.
- Both feel they belong, for different reasons. Neither statement tells us who is a citizen.
Watch out for this
People who share a national identity must have the same culture and views.
People can share a sense of belonging while keeping different cultures and disagreeing about issues.
Check your understanding
Two citizens disagree about a new building project, but both say they care about Singapore's future. What does this show?
- They will have to settle the disagreement before they can belong.
- People can share a sense of belonging and still disagree about decisions.
- At least one of them does not really feel Singaporean.
Show the answer
People can share a sense of belonging and still disagree about decisions.
Yes. Caring about the country does not require agreeing on every decision.