ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Singapore’s institutionalized plural legal system, focusing on the coexistence of civil and Islamic personal status laws and their implications for gender equality. It examines how constitutional, statutory, and religious frameworks shape marriage, divorce, and inheritance rights, often creating disparities between legal systems and genders. Through case studies and analysis of legal reforms, the chapter highlights both convergence and tension between civil and Muslim law, arguing that while Singapore has made progress in promoting equality, structural limitations and legal fragmentation continue to pose challenges.
