Singaporean public housing policies and cultural norms often discourage young, unmarried individuals from moving out of their family homes. SMU Assistant Professor of Sociology George Wong observes that in the Republic, one of the growing points of friction between generations lies in how independence is defined. Asst Prof Wong said that in Asia, conventionally, the family unit has been an important institution, extending into different parts of their lives, including the process of adulting. However, young Singaporeans today are exposed to more opportunities and cultural influences, which lead to having more differences in definitions, opinions and expectations around independence.
