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Ah Boys to Men is bad for SAF
From Vanessa Tai 04:45 AM Nov 30, 2012
I recently watched Ah Boys to Men with my parents and younger brother, who is undergoing National Service. Like other Jack Neo films, the humour was slapstick and littered with Hokkien expletives.
Those jokes were tolerable, but the misogynistic script was unbearable. For example, the recruits referred to women as "clothing that can be easily discarded" in a bid to cheer up one of the recruits who had been dumped.
Another example was a sergeant showing his recruits how to tear a certain leaf in order to form the shape of female genitals.
Perhaps Mr Neo is accurately representing army life, but there is no value in such distasteful jokes. From what I understand, such banter is commonplace in the army, and while most guys do not hold sexist views, they play along so as not to be ostracised, which is a shame. Such behaviour should not be accepted as the norm.
A first-class military is not one that is just well armed or well trained in combat. A first-class military - in fact, a first-class society - is an egalitarian one that treats each member with respect, regardless of sex or socio-economic background.
The Singapore Armed Forces is moving into a Third Generation, with greater emphasis on nurturing and engaging each soldier, which is a step in the right direction. However, more can be done to improve the image of our soldiers.
Ah Boys to Men is a caricature, yes, but with many impressionable young men watching it, my worry is that Mr Neo's careless stereotypes may undo a lot of the SAF's good work.
From Vanessa Tai 04:45 AM Nov 30, 2012
I recently watched Ah Boys to Men with my parents and younger brother, who is undergoing National Service. Like other Jack Neo films, the humour was slapstick and littered with Hokkien expletives.
Those jokes were tolerable, but the misogynistic script was unbearable. For example, the recruits referred to women as "clothing that can be easily discarded" in a bid to cheer up one of the recruits who had been dumped.
Another example was a sergeant showing his recruits how to tear a certain leaf in order to form the shape of female genitals.
Perhaps Mr Neo is accurately representing army life, but there is no value in such distasteful jokes. From what I understand, such banter is commonplace in the army, and while most guys do not hold sexist views, they play along so as not to be ostracised, which is a shame. Such behaviour should not be accepted as the norm.
A first-class military is not one that is just well armed or well trained in combat. A first-class military - in fact, a first-class society - is an egalitarian one that treats each member with respect, regardless of sex or socio-economic background.
The Singapore Armed Forces is moving into a Third Generation, with greater emphasis on nurturing and engaging each soldier, which is a step in the right direction. However, more can be done to improve the image of our soldiers.
Ah Boys to Men is a caricature, yes, but with many impressionable young men watching it, my worry is that Mr Neo's careless stereotypes may undo a lot of the SAF's good work.
