Preface and Acknowledgements

Summary

Women's movements are one of the most significant social movements today in many countries. Thailand, where women's groups are just emerging, provides an interesting case study. This book is an exploratory work to document and analyse, and publish for the first time, case studies of women's organizations in Thailand.

Having been born, brought up and initially educated in Bangkok, and having witnessed the activities of student revolt during 1973-76 as a college student, the first author wanted to know more about the growth of subsequent social actions. Only after working for a higher degree in the United States did she realize how closely her own growth as a woman was linked to Thai culture and history. A desire to study the lives of Thai women and their organizations was a natural extension of her developed consciousness as a woman and of her interest in social action. Her familiarity with various women's groups and her identity as a native Thai gained for her some acceptance from them. Yet, being educated and employed abroad, she was an outsider, and allowed some degree of objectivity.

The second author had a general theoretical background in Southeast Asia and grass roots development groups. He participated in all aspects of the study (research and design), and in most interviews with key women of various groups.

This research has taken us several field visits and years to complete between 1985-90. Many colleagues and friends have helped us in several ways through discussions, comments and critiques to complete the work. The research work began in 1985 with the encouragement of the Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Professor K.S. Sandhu, under an ASEAN Economic Research Fellowship funded by USAID. Work continued at the Women's Studies Research Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, where we received encouragement and support from Professors Cyrena Pondrom, Janet Hyde, Russell Middleton, and Joseph Elder. Professor Michael Apple read the manuscript and gave valuable feedback.