National University of Singapore (NUS)

SE3222
Gender in Southeast Asia

Presentation notes on Just Follow Law

Name: Galvez Victoria Francesca (U060290Y)

Tutor: Dr Pattana Kitiarsa
Tutorial group: DW1
Tutorial day and time: Wednesday, 10am 12pm

Introduction: Background and Summary of Just Follow Law

Background:
Just Follow Law is a comedy directed by Jack Neo, a filmmaker well known for his
critiques on social issues in Singapore. It stars Gurmit Singh as Lim Teck Zui, and Fann
Wong as Tanya Chew.
Summary:
Just Follow Law is a satirical movie that humourously explores the intricacies of office
politics in the Singapore civil service. Through the eyes of blue-collar worker Lim and
Vice President Chew, the film depicts the inflexibility of government rules, and the
manner in which civil servants respond to it. They follow the rules to a fault, because of
their powerlessness to change laws and in the sake of self-interest. Thus, Just Follow
Law is reminiscent of the colloquial Singlish saying Just follow lor a nonchalant and
resigned attitude of complying with orders without questioning why.
In the film, Lim and Chew meet with a freak accident which causes them to change souls
and bodies. Then, Lim1 experiences life as a blue-collar male worker and Chew2, a
female scholar and Vice President. Through the switch, they understand the plights and
challenges facing the contemporary Singapore workforce.
Note:
It is not my intention to concentrate on the critique of the Singapore civil service. Instead,
I wish to touch on the themes on gender that emerge in the film.
Objective of Study
I aim to tease out the themes on gender in Just Follow Law, citing examples (scenes from
the film) to support my interpretations. I go on to give reasons for the existence of each
theme. I also suggest its possible impacts.
I begin the presentation with the concept of multi marginality, to contextualize Lim and
Chews experiences in the Singapore workforce. Next, I explore three themes: biological
sex/gender model versus gender performance model, gender ideology in the family, and
objectification of the genders with females as sex objects and males, success objects.
Contextualization: Multi marginality
The situating of Lim and Chew in social structural variables of gender, class (cultural
capital of education, skills, income and language) and age, reveal that both of them face
multi marginality. Multi marginality implies the connection between social identities,
which simultaneously disadvantage individuals from various sides.
Lim is marginalized by his class status; he has little cultural capital. He completed only
primary school education, receives low wages for work, and has little formal work and
1
2

Lim refers to Chew in Lims biological body after the switch of souls and bodies.
Chew refers to Lim in Chews biological body after the switch of souls and bodies.

linguistic skills he cannot speak and write in English and Mandarin, but converses in
dialects. He is also disadvantaged by his age; he is a middle age man. Thus, his identities
impose upon him multi marginality he is a middle age, blue-collar male worker.
On the other hand, Chew has an advantage in her class status. She is a scholar with elite
education, rings in a high income, has honed formal work and linguistic abilities she
speaks and writes fluently in English and Mandarin. However, she is marginalized by her
age and gender. She is seen her colleagues as a young and inexperienced worker. She is
the only female amongst an all male top management.
In Just Follow Law, the variable of class superficially outweighs gender. Chew, in a
highly skilled occupation, occupies a higher position in the work hierarchy or
stratification system. She has the ability to order Lim around. Gender, however, should
not be neglected. It tends to operate behind the scenes, quietly shaping social relations
and interactions.
The emphasis on class later explains why Chew initially adjusts more easily than Lim
after the switch. Chew, previously from the working class, rejoices in her newly found
luxuries. Lim, however, cannot accept his relegation to the lower ranks of the social
stratification ladder. Yet, later, Chew finds herself unable to cope at work. Lim is
able to better himself through studying and upgrading, class values he has
internalized before the switch.
On the seeming presidency of class over gender, this could be due to the growing gender
equality in the Singapore workforce. Women are increasingly obtaining elite education
and engaging in wage work. They are nearly on par with men in the workforce. Also,
given capitalisms focus on competitiveness, it turns a blind eye to gender and looks more
to class.
Theme 1: Biological Sex/Gender model versus Gender Performance model
In Just Follow Law, the essentialist notion of equating sex with gender is present.
Conflating sex with gender makes the latter biological, rooted in ones subconsciousness. This is evident after the switch. Lim and Chew automatically exchange
masculine and feminine characteristics. Thus, Lim naturally takes on the mannerism of
a female: crying, sitting, speaking and walking demurely. Chew immediately dons
masculine actions: urinating while standing up, digging his nose in public and rapping
out vulgarities in coarse language. These give the impression that gender is biological, in
your head and fixed by sex.
These views are endorsed by medical institutions and wider society. In the former,
doctors whom Lim and Chew consult dismiss them as having a psychological
problem, referring them to the mental hospital. Likewise, the people Lim and Chew
come out to believe that they are joking about the switch. It is impossible to conceive of
a female in a biologically male body and vice versa.

Why such an essentialist or biological model exists is because Singapores medical

institutions adopt a Western perspective on sex and gender. Such a model, endorsed by
doctors and psychologists, conflate sex with gender in a binary system. Then, hegemonic
meanings the medics attach to sex/gender are institutionalized, infiltrating society. They
become part of everyday life, taken-for-granted and normalized. Hence, it is stupendous
for individuals to accept Lim and Chews switch. Gender transgression into the opposite
sex or a third sex is not possible.
Yet implicitly, gender can be learned and performed, separate from sex. For example,
Lim teaches Chew how to use female beauty products. Lim learns how to shave.
Likewise, Chew teaches Lim how to urinate while standing up. Chew learns how to
dress like a woman. Although there is an overriding consciousness of equating gender
with sex, one can be socialized into performing gender. Perhaps then, gender is fluid,
flexible and contingent, defying essentialist logic.
Theme 2: Gender ideology in the family
Before the switch, Lim is a poor but loving, single father of a young daughter. Chew on
the other hand, has a loveless relationship with her aged mother. After the switch, Chew
desires to share her wealth with her daughter. She learns that she must upgrade
herself to better provide for her daughters needs. Likewise, Lim picks up the value
of filial piety. He comes to appreciate his aged mothers love and regrets their
previously cool relationship.
The above is reminiscent of Confucian familial values. The male is to be the provider and
protector of his young; a role that Chew fulfills. The female role is age-structured; Lim
internalizes the value of filial piety and respect. Hence, gender ideology in Just Follow
Law is moralistic and individualistic.
However, it does not suffice to view the operation of Confucian values only at the micro
level. Instead, a look into the history of Singapore reveals why Confucian values were
encouraged in the 1980s, and still are today. After independence, the Peoples Action
Party (PAP) opened Singapore to Western influences. In the 1980s, the PAP feared a loss
of traditional Chinese values with the Western-like modernization of Singapore. Thus,
Confucian values were naturalized, acting implicitly as techniques of governance or
social control to monitor these two trends. State rule became indirect, with individuals
themselves perpetuating the gender ideology in the contemporary family.
Theme 3: Objectification of the genders
In Just Follow Law, females are objectified as sex objects. This is done in seemingly
conflicting terms. On one hand, female sexuality is sacred. Lim does not allow Chew
to touch her body. Chew has the (female) privilege of screaming molest. These
construct the female body as holy and untouchable, not to be violated.

On the other hand, female sexuality is sensationalized. In a bathing scene, Chews

nakedness is focused upon while Lim remains completely dressed. Also, Chew is often
shot in bikinis and revealing outfits. At the office, beach and spa, she ogles at the other
scantily dressed women. Thus, through the male gaze, the objectification of females as
sex objects occurs, albeit contradictorily.
Males too are objectified, but as success objects. Lims distress about his poor
credentials and his subsequent pursuit of higher education are related to his desire to
succeed in a better occupation.
The objectification of females and males share one thing in common: individuals become
a means to an end (sexual gratification and wealth or resource accumulation).
Nonetheless, differences abound. As sex objects, females endure embodied
objectification. As success objects, males face disembodied or externalized
objectification. Being success objects tend to empower males over females.
Conclusion/Recap
Analyzing Just Follow Law, I have situated Lim and Chews experiences in multi
marginality; gender works with class and age to disadvantage individuals from various
sides. Following, I covered three themes. One, I have contrasted the biological sex/gender
model with the gender performance model. Two, I have examined gender ideology in the
family. Three, objectification of the genders has been covered.
Thank you.