What are the experiences and effects of living in a diverse society?
G3 Social Studies - syllabus K336 (Social Studies component), 2027
What happens when people from different backgrounds live together: cultural exchange and shared skills, but also stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and competition.
- Interactions and common space
A common space is a place where people from different backgrounds meet. It creates a chance to build relationships, but what people do there matters.
- Cultural exchange and appreciation
Cultural exchange is sharing practices and traditions. Appreciation grows when people understand why those practices matter and treat them with respect.
- Exchange of knowledge and skills
People with different training and experiences can teach each other and solve problems together.
- Stereotypes
A stereotype is an oversimplified belief about a group that is applied to every member, ignoring individual differences.
- Prejudice
Prejudice is a negative attitude towards people because of the group they belong to, formed without getting to know them.
- Discrimination
Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of their group, such as their race, religion or nationality.
- Competition for resources
When there are not enough jobs, homes or places for everyone who wants them, competition can create tension between groups.
- Put it together: A shared badminton club
Residents from different backgrounds share a badminton club. Membership and court bookings are open to all local residents under the same rules. Compare an open evening, paired practice and a busy booking period.
What you will be able to do
I can explain how people from different groups meet and mix in common spaces.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 2. Interactions in a diverse society and common space
Taught in Interactions and common space
I can explain how living in a diverse society lets people share and appreciate one another's cultures.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 2, Experiences and effects of living in a diverse society. Cultural exchange and appreciation
Taught in Cultural exchange and appreciation
I can explain how people from different backgrounds share knowledge and skills with one another.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 2, Experiences and effects of living in a diverse society. Exchange of knowledge and skills
Taught in Exchange of knowledge and skills
I can tell stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination apart and explain how each one harms people.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 2, Experiences and effects of living in a diverse society. Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination
Taught in Stereotypes, Prejudice, Discrimination
I can explain how competition for resources such as jobs and housing can cause tension in a diverse society.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 2, Experiences and effects of living in a diverse society. Competition for resources
Taught in Competition for resources
Sources and context
Background reading for this chapter.
- PMO, opening of the Outward Bound Singapore Coney Island campus, 11 September 2026
The speech presents the programme positively; it does not prove that every participant formed lasting friendships. It announced expanded access, rather than establishing that every Secondary 3 student had already attended.
- MCCY, speech at Iskandar Jalil's award ceremony, 9 June 2015
This is a 2015 account of one artist's work and teaching. It does not establish identical learning outcomes for every student or show that adopting an influence erased an earlier identity.
- MOM, false declaration on fair hiring, 10 March 2020
The conviction concerned a false declaration. The account does not establish that all 22 applicants were qualified, blame the selected worker, or show that hiring a foreign candidate is itself discriminatory.