ABSTRACT
This chapter explores changes in the position of women in Thai society over the past three decades through the prisms of four variables: official policies on women; health and reproduction; education and employment; and position in the family. It argues that although Thai women started the century in a comparatively favourable position relative to many other women in the region, some traditional problems faced by women have yet to be fully addressed and moreover, new problems continue to emerge as a result of Thailand’s economic and social development. Theravada Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand and it continues to exert a strong influence over social values, codes of ethics and day-to-day behaviour. A young daughter is valued as an important member of the Thai family for the domestic chores she performs— in particular caring for younger siblings. The long-term practice of bilateral inheritance is another cultural trait that reflects Thailand’s traditional trend to gender equity.
