What are the factors that shape the identities of people and contribute to a diverse society?
G3 Social Studies - syllabus K336 (Social Studies component), 2027
How race and ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status and nationality shape who we are, and why people in the same group can differ.
- Overlapping identities
Identity is how you see yourself and the groups you belong to. Everyone has several identities at once.
- Race and ethnicity
Race and ethnicity link people through shared heritage, language, customs and history. They do not decide a person's abilities or behaviour.
- Religion
Religion can shape people's beliefs, values, daily habits and sense of belonging. People of the same religion can practise it differently.
- Socio-economic status
Socio-economic status is your family's social and economic position, shaped by income, education, job and resources, not income alone.
- Nationality
Nationality is your legal link to a country, usually through citizenship. It is not the same as ethnicity, birthplace or where you live.
- Identity in different situations
Different parts of your identity matter more in different situations, and your identity can change as you have new experiences.
- Put it together: One person in different situations
Sana is a Singapore citizen. She describes her family heritage as Chinese and Indian and says she is Buddhist. Her family budget rules out a costly overseas school trip. She wants to take part in a local exchange instead.
What you will be able to do
I can explain how a person's identities overlap and change, and how they make a society diverse.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 1. Factors that shape the identities of people and contribute to a diverse society
Taught in Overlapping identities, Identity in different situations
I can explain how race and ethnicity shape people's identities and add to diversity in society.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 1. Race and ethnicity
Taught in Race and ethnicity
I can explain how religion shapes people's identities and adds to diversity in society.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 1. Religion
Taught in Religion
I can explain how socio-economic status shapes people's identities and adds to diversity in society.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 1. Socio-economic status
Taught in Socio-economic status
I can explain how nationality shapes people's identities and adds to diversity in society.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 1. Nationality
Taught in Nationality
Sources and context
Background reading for this chapter.
- Singapore Department of Statistics, Census of Population 2020: religion by ethnic group
These are 2020 figures, even if the website has a later update date. The table does not reveal each person's beliefs, frequency of practice or reasons for their affiliation.
- Xinmin Secondary School, 2026 MOE Financial Assistance Scheme, 28 October 2025
An assistance scheme's criteria do not measure every part of socio-economic status. The announcement does not establish students' character or measure the scheme's effects on their later lives.
- MCCY, 2018 National Citizenship Ceremony speech, 4 August 2018
This is an account of a particular event and the speaker's aims. It does not establish how strongly each participant felt a sense of belonging, or that all new citizens share the same experience.