Intra-Ethnic Conversations

INTRODUCTION

Intra-Ethnic Conversations (IEC) is a program which aims to unpack the diversities within the different ethnic communities in Singapore. It aims to foster meaningful conversations for participants to share and learn more about the differences within larger racial groupings (i.e. CMIO). Participants will learn more about the lives of the Hokkiens, the Cantonese, the Sikhs, the Bugis, the Eurasians, and more. This is a ‘Diversifying Diversity’ effort by hash.peace, a social harmony advocacy group in Singapore. Through this effort, hash.peace  intends to develop friendships that transcend differences and contribute to an inclusive society.

t is the hypothesis of hash.peace members that exposure and education about the diversity within each racial group in the CMIO framework will help to widen the knowledge and understanding of differing cultures and practices within what may seem like the same ethinc community. This may help in reducing negative stereotyping, implicit bias and also microaggressions. Also at the same time, learning about different ethnic communities will help Singaporeans to better understand the identity of their fellow citizens and residents (e.g differentiating the Hokkien from Teochew, the Malayalees from Tamils etc).

OBJECTIVES

• Raise awareness about the different ethnic communities within the CMIO framework, which will prevent negative stereotyping, implicit bias and microaggressions 
  

• Facilitate the discourse about commonalities and differences between communities from the same racial grouping