WOMEN ON THE MOVE
Increasingly professional and respected, females in Thailand have demonstrated their qualities over the decades,
As we look back at the progress Thailand has made in women’s rights, as recorded in 70 years of coverage by the Bangkok Post, one thing is crystal-clear: Thai women have fought tooth and nail to enjoy greater gender equality, especially in the last couple of decades.
While there is still a long way for them to go in achieving total fairness in both the workplace and home, they have achieved a decent amount of success that they can be proud of. In the 80s and 90s, laws were passed to offer women greater control of their lives.
A women’s rights protection centre was set up to assist those encountering sex discrimination, founded by the Women’s Friends Group in 1983. Plans were also under way the same year to construct a vocational training school for rural girls to make them financially independent.
In the 90s, we saw women’s groups calling for the abolition of gender titles, while women were demanding a greater role in local government and, for the first time, a long-term plan was formed for national women’s development.
News coverage of these milestones reflect the changing times for Thai women, known for their resilience and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
As early as 1948, we read about Siamese women being encouraged to speak up and be less timid. A popular socialite of that era, Mom Kobkaew Abhakorn, who was re-elected to take the helm of the Siamese Women’s Association, urged women to voice their wants and needs.
Mom Kobkaew articulated what was on her mind when she gave an interview to the Bang
kok Post on Jan 27, 1948: “Although ours is not a political organisation, we might take a greater interest in politics. By doing so we can serve our country better.”
She said most Siamese women had always been easy-going when it came to their position in society. The cause of this “is that we have never had to fight for our rights. We are born with them”.
Women’s rights forged ahead in the late 50s, seeing Ora-in Bhuripat of Ubon Ratchathani become the first unmarried woman to win election to the National Assembly, as reported by the Post on Dec 23, 1957. She voiced her strong conviction to fight for women’s rights, saying it was only in theory that Thai women had the same rights as men, instilling public awareness that, for development to occur, people had to change the way they viewed gender equality.
In 1960, the Constituent Assembly outlawed prostitution, as the government was not satisfied with the previous system, which expected prostitutes to register, because some thought the scheme officially supported the vice.
Moreover, the law discouraged the use of any location as a brothel and prohibited the sex industry, which then interior minister Prapass Charusathiara described as “against public morals”.
Making his point, he continued by saying that, under the new law, if a woman walking on the street greets a male stranger, she is liable to arrest. Sex workers were also expected to enter rehabilitation centres to seek treatment for possible diseases and be offered vocational training.
Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, the prime minister, launched a campaign in 1969 against mini-skirts. Condemning females who wore short skirts, he ordered the National Cultural Council to prohibit short dresses and tight slacks from official buildings.
“Whenever I have a chance to meet students, I always ask them to help preserve our charming Thai culture,” said the premier as published in the
Post on Aug 8, 1969. The Education Ministry was also told to keep a strict rein on students who appeared on campus in miniskirts. The ministry also banned teachers from taking up the emerging trend.
In the area of beauty, we had Apasara Hongsakul’s victory at the 1965 Miss Universe competition and our own Queen Sirikit being named the world’s best-dressed woman.
In mid-1971, there was a rise in the number of women appointed to high-ranking state posts. Among these was none other than Khunying Ambhorn Meesook, appointed deputy undersecretary of state for education, making her the highest-ranking female civil servant in the kingdom.
Four years later, women’s rights were given a significant boost when Ampa Patharavanik became Thailand’s first female ambassador, representing the kingdom in Sri Lanka.
Women’s rights groups’ demands for equality intensified. In what the Bangkok Post described on March 8, 1974, as the country’s first female protest, a small group of women demonstrated in front of parliament demanding equal treatment under the law.
Veena Simtrakrew, group leader of the Women’s Liberation Front, summed up the sentiments of her group when she said that it was high time they proved themselves equal to men, as they were no longer the hind legs of the elephants — referring to the traditional Thai saying about the role of women in society. She said women should be given opportunities to prove they are capable of doing the same work as men at the same salary.
On Sept 24, 1982, a widow in Samut Songkhram broke gender barriers to become the first female village headwoman — a mere month after new regulations allowed the fairer gender to become a village head. Once shunned by the public for being a widow, it was a day to rejoice when 53-yearold widow Sompong Surapan was elected phuyai baan.
As the 90s roll in, gender equality took a turn for the best when a female official broke new ground after the Interior Ministry decided to halt a decades-old tradition of selecting only males as provincial governors.
Charatsri Teepirat, 53, was given the mantle by the cabinet to serve as governor of Nakhon Nayok. To drive home the point that being male was no longer a guarantee to success, PM Chuan Leekpai said in the Post on Jan 26, 1993: “Gender will no longer pose an obstacle. It will depend on sustainability and ability.”
Thai female athletes dominated the sports arena as we hit 2000. Their talent resonated across the globe, with weightlifter Khassaraporn Suta becoming Thailand’s first woman to clinch an Olympic medal when she picked up bronze at the Sydney Olympics. Last year, there was much to celebrate as Thailand’s national women’s football team made sporting history by qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. The team manager was none other than Nualphan Lamsam, who played a pivotal role in making this milestone possible.
Thai female athletes continued to showcase their brilliance this year. World-class badminton talent Ratchanok Intanon continued her dominance on the international circuit by completing an unprecedented run, clinching a hat trick of Super Series titles, officially making her the top-ranked women’s singles player in the world in April.
Among other accomplishments, we salute golf pro Ariya Jutanugarn, who jumped up to 10th spot in the world after some top performances. Many like her have continued to rise up the ranking ladder, making their country proud with each accomplishment.
There have been so many other sportswomen who continue to reach milestones because someone saw their potential to shine and gave them the break they needed to realise their dream.
Thai women have proved time and again, in various occupations, that they are second to none. Given opportunity and know-how, they’re just as good as, or better than, their male counterparts.