A girl who is joining the workforce posted online and asked if make-up is mandatory at a workspace.

Here is what she said:

Is it common to wear makeup when in the workforce? I’m joining the workforce soon, it’s an office job. All the while through school I’ve never worn makeup before.

My mother always tells me only those loose women wear makeup to attract guys, and forbid me to wear makeup. So I don’t really know anything about makeup at all, I’ve watched some youtube videos but it seems very overwhelming to me. Will I be judged for not wearing makeup and is it more polite to wear makeup?

I’m very lost and anxious.

Here are what netizens told her:

• What kind of office jobs? Do you need to face clients? I have colleagues coming to office without makeup too! Anyway now need to wear mask you put lipstick also no use.

• Makeup is showing respect to yourself & others ( by being presentable ).Dun have to be very heavy full makeup. Just loose powder with lipgloss will be sufficient. Looking good will leave a better impression for others on u too.Good luck to your new job.

• To look presentable loh, just like guys comb their hair and shave.

• its up to your own preference.I hated makeup when I go to work. Plus now you need to wear mask,who gives a shit if you have make up beneath. As long as you have self confidence. There’s no need for makeup. That being said, some companies have a dress code which includes make up. If there isn’t then don’t bother. Some make up contains lots of junk ingredients like lead in lipsticks. Reduce such exposures is better. Some say its a form of respect to others, but I would say,learn to respect yourself,love yourself, before you think about that. Such sayings are commercial talks to make women buy makeup.After all,which company doesn’t want to cash in on women’s insecurities?

• my mother also told me hold hands will get pregnant. i think i fathered quite few already.

• Dolling yourself up can also be for yourself, your own mental well being. Your mother’s opinion was for a young girl/teenager in hopes to reduce your chance of having bgr problems, no longer applicable to a young working female adult. Personally I feel better if I put a bit of make up when I go out. Which girl wouldn’t want to look nice?Now everyone wear mask, already cover half the face. First day of work just put a bit at the area that the mask didn’t cover and access if the other ladies at the office put any. See if you want to blend in or you want to do what you want. Personally I find women who make an effort to look presentable will make a good impression at work. No need wayang make up. A little blush if you usually look pale. Make sure no chapped lips in case you have lunch with colleagues. Nice defined brows etc.

A story was recently shared by a local online feeling unhappy about his/her Singaporean accent.

Here is what the netizen said:

Sorry if this offends anyone, it’s not my intention to.

I’ve always been embarrassed of my Singaporean accent and Singaporean English. Most of us are bilingual thanks to the education system, but it seems like we’re not good at either language. Every time I hear the Singaporean accent on videos, podcasts and interviews alongside the standard western English accent or Chinese accent, I can’t help but cringe inwardly. Basic words like “Salmon” and “flour” are often mispronounced and our grammar is atrocious.

You just have to look at the Facebook comment section to find words mispelt and used incorrectly. Yet, we seem to have some sort of superiority complex, reading so many comments and posts chiding people of certain nationalities. Having lived here all my life, I too have the standard Singaporean accent. Every time I go overseas, I’m very Self concious of my accent. When I speak to my foreign friends I’m afraid that they won’t understand me or laugh at my accent. In other words, there’s a feeling of inferiority.Does anyone else feel this way? Have we tried too hard? Isn’t it better to learn one language and be good at it than to learn two and be terrible at both? I’m curious what foreigners think about our accent and the way we speak English.

Here is what netizens say:

• Why think of it this way? In every country or even amongst different states. There’s always different accents even in the same language. Think of US vs British vs Aussie. They all have different accents in English alone. Why be bothered by such mediocre thing. The accent is really nothing. What’s important is how you accept yourself for who you are and be confident on what you say. Even if you have broken english, singlish etc but you have the conviction on what you’re preaching, you can be great too. Think of Jack Ma, he didn’t even speak good english when he started his biz idea. But he was full of confidence and conviction when he talked. He once said you only need to know 500 english words and you can talk to other biz people. It all boils down to your mindset too. Change your mindset, perceptions, change your life.

• Language is about communication. Even many native speakers from English speaking countries struggle to communicate. If you’re succeeding at the basic purpose, then it doesn’t really matter whether it sounds exactly like some imagined ideal or not. And if it still bothers you, practice by trying to sound like the podcasts from major news services one word or vowel at a time.

• This guy talk so much macham the post he type all the ang moh correct, this kind is call ang moh wannabe.