SINGAPORE — Ken Kwek watched as investigations into Harvey Weinstein’s treatment of women in October 2017 ignited the #MeToo movement and led women across the globe to share their experiences of sexual abuse and workplace harassment.

Yet here in his home country, the conversation was more muted. In Singapore, a wealthy one-time British colony known for its glittering skyline and ethnic diversity, many still hold to another century’s view of the roles of men and women. Victims of sexual misconduct often face shame and blame, and the global reckoning seems far away.

Mr. Kwek, a playwright, decided it was time to bring this sensitive topic to Singapore. In May, his play “This Is What Happens to Pretty Girls” was performed to sold-out audiences, sparking a new wave of conversation, yet it left some wondering whether a drama that put a stark spotlight on a persistent problem can prompt lasting change.

Sexual harassment “is as endemic a problem here as anywhere else, but it just manifests itself in a different way,” Mr. Kwek said. “In this part of the world, in Singapore, you are talking about a passive and nonconfrontational culture.”