Respect for the elderly, the cornerstones of African and Asian societies, is being challenged

Is filial piety still with us in 21C Singapore? In 1996, the Singapore government enacted the Maintenance Act which provides for any resident aged 60 or over who cannot support themselves to seek maintenance through the courts from their children who can but do not support them. Is this a case of government being the nanny state or is ‘filial piety’, the highest virtue in the Confucian moral order, so ingrained in the Chinese diaspora throughout East Asia, now slowly eroding? ?

In contrast, in Africa there is no legal mandate for filial piety or respect for elders. Children used to be implicitly regarded as the “insurance” of the old days. As they grow, they will become earners and contribute to the family income. Modern African families are now shrinking in size. Raising 2-3 children per household is becoming the norm. Therefore, the belief that “children are insurance for old times” is gradually eroding. The family bond remains strong and solidarity reigns among family members. In most modern African families, the elderly are increasingly financially independent. Children are expected to take care of themselves when they start working. In some wealthy families, they are not expected to take care of their elders financially. They are required to continue to be part of family life, being present at times of family celebration, taking grandchildren to visit grandparents, etc.

Chinese Singaporeans care about contributing to the family income. I distinctly remember giving part of my first pay packet to my parents as part of the unspoken ‘generational contract’, whether their parents were financially capable or not. The fact that there are some 1,411 cases brought to court suggests that things are slipping a bit or is a sign of economic times. However, I know that under the veneer of being ‘westernized’, there is still lurking somewhere in our subconscious the notion that you have to respect your elders, whether you are supporting them financially or not. I still address anyone much older than me as ‘aunt’ or ‘uncle’ in Singapore even though they are not related to me, much to the bewilderment of my Western friends.

In Tanzania, there is a special way to address people older than you. “Habari” is the normal greeting given to someone. However, if you know the person is older than you, then “Shikamoo” is the proper greeting for an elder.

It remains to be seen whether we in East Asia will continue to show our ‘filial piety’ by financially supporting our parents. However, it can be said that the change in values ​​is slowly happening in the workplace as well. With increasing exposure to “Western management style”, respect for elders in the workplace is no longer the modus operandi in East Asia and Africa.

Seniority is no longer the way to promote staff. The skills and experience required are the new business cards. Role models and mentors, regardless of age, are our new support system in the workplace. ‘Filial piety’ could also take on a new shade of expression, if not financially, at least emotionally.