poster adapted from:
http://www.prisons.gov.sg/downloads/YRP_Event%20Poster.pdf
I first saw this advertisement in one of the 'Today' newspapers. Basically, it is a poster showing one man with his whole back filled with tattoos and is using his right hand to reach to the back in hope to remove the label 'ex-offender' pinned on him. This advertisement aims to inform the readers to "help remove the label of prejudice" that was placed on these ex-offenders. The yellow ribbon project also hopes to use this advertisement to persuade the public especially the employers to give these ex-offenders a chance to enter the workforce.
My own interpretation of this poster is that it is rather stereotyping because this 'model' is pictured using his right hand to reach for the post it that was pasted on his back. Is it true that all of us use our right hand to reach out for things? Another stereotype regarding this poster is that it assumes that all ex-offenders have tattoos which is obviously not true because some people do go for tattoos because they perceived it as a form of art. My interpretation of the creator of this poster for using post it instead of some other labels could probably indicate that this 'ex-offender' label can be remove rather easily and painlessly. Well, that's the characteristic of post it isn't it?
Just like the creator of this poster, typically, most of us would probably have our own personal constructs and thus tend to associate the term 'ex-offenders' with what we have habitually notice in gangsters like dyed hair, many ear holes some of which are so large to the extent that you could actually peeped through it, thick make up and revealing clothes for the girls and very sluggish attire for the guys. Overall, they tend to walk rather menacing. Obviously the fact that most of them smoke and drink could not be omitted. Upon the sight of such appearance, we tend to predict their behaviour such as that of their sentence which tend to be made up of vulgarities and more often than not, constant hand gesture are involved. Of course, these are, as mentioned stereotype of what we normally deemed as gangsters or ex-criminal. Such stereotype occurs probably because of our mental framework which develops over time as we grow up and we will start to form our own interpretation regarding various issues. The cause of such discrimination could probably be traced back to the time when we were younger. Things that we have in contact with do leave an impression on us and depending on whether the event that occurs is positive or negative, we then develop different opinion to various issues. For example, when I was younger, i used to witness this group of people who like to gather at the void deck talking drinking and when they got drunk, they start to create troubles like picking up a fight with another group. This could be the reason as to why I would normally associate large group of people gathering at the void deck as gangsters or people who are out to create trouble. Fortunately, it is possible to move beyond our default organisational template.
Regarding the stereotype mentioned earlier, personally i feel that not all ex-criminals have tattoos, smoke or behave like a gangster. The term 'Ex-offender' is rather broad which i would personally defined it as people who have a police record whether they are caught for shoplifting, or they sell pirated CD, speed driving, drink driving etc. So long as they have been caught for acting against the rules in Singapore, in my perception will be defined as 'offenders'. Thus, it is seen that ex-offenders do not necessary need to be a gangster or someone with tattoos.
Personally i feel that though the yellow ribbon project is gaining in popularity, it might not appeal to most of the people simply because the fear that they might repeat the offence is still instill within us. Though some part within us do believe that these ex-offenders are determined to change for the better, this perception is still weaker than our fear of they repeating the crime or commit other crimes.
If i were to be a boss, i might consider giving them a second chance as I perceived that most of them have realised their mistake and would not want to go back to the prison again. However, before i were to employ them, i might make a great deal of effort to do research as to their behaviour when they are in the prison and observe them when they are working. I mean, this is to play safe isn't it? Of course there are people who will be very willing to help but the question is, how many people are really willing to offer such help?
