Negotiating (in)security in Singapore: A feminist geographical perspective of everyday (in)securities and authoritarianism

While Singapore is widely regarded as one of the safest cities worldwide, the government's security practices efforts do not universally instill a sense of security. Adopting a feminist geographical approach, this paper considers emotions as the foundation of knowledge production. The study posits the question of how (in)security is subjectively experienced and negotiated in the context of authoritarian Singapore. The present study is based on qualitative photo-elicitation interviews with 60 participants, a visual approach that utilizes photographs as visual stimuli during the interview to elicit affective responses. The findings reveal that, first, regulations and surveillance are inscribed in people's behavior, appearance, and embodied practices in everyday life. While governmental security practices in Singapore may ostensibly address issues of physical and economic integrity, the impact of these practices on people's ontological (in)security is significant. Second, the paper demonstrates how government security practices categorize certain identities as unworthy of government protection, thereby provoking feelings of insecurity. Third, it elucidates the adaptation to and resistance of everyday authoritarianism, based on the opportunity to express deviant otherness. In summary, the findings highlight the significance of studying (in)security in Singapore from an individual's perspective to comprehend the contradictory emotions and practices in relation to authoritarianism.