Thai society sees women 'as lowly'

Anthropologist slams females for ignoring sexist attack on Yingluck

Using the term prostitute as a reference to slam Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra only degrades women and perpetuates misogynic attitudes, three women - a leading feminist, an anthropologist and a sex worker - said.

Virada Somsawasdi is founder of the Women's Studies Programme at Chiang Mai University and commissioner at the Law Reform Commission of Thailand in charge of pushing for a gender equality bill.

She said Thai society sees women as lowly and this is reflected in the use of sexist slurs by both sides of the political divide.

The latest misogynistic remark was made by Thai Rath newspaper cartoonist Chai Rachawat who criticised Yingluck as worse than a whore because she allegedly sells out Thailand. Virada said Chai should not have picked on women in particular.

"Men can sell their country, too. But [Chai] referred to [Yingluck] by mentioning the word whore. They see women as lowly," said Virada, adding that such discourse should end.

Many Thai men are hypocritical, said Virada, as they use the service of sex workers and push the notion of prostitute to elevate themselves and degrade women at the same time.

Virada also criticised Panthongthae Shinawatra for having made a similarly sexist remark. Panthongtae tried to defend her aunt, Yingluck, by stating on Facebook earlier this week that if Chai didn't apologise, he should put on a skirt.

Virada said the solution is to address the whole system of Thai society, which is embedded in chauvinistic thinking and gender-power relations.

Chiang Mai University anthropologist Pinkaew Luangaramsri, said she is disappointed that many feminists chose to keep quiet about the issue simply because they're politically against Yingluck.

"They don't come out because they've taken a political stance. This is not healthy," she said.

"They hate Yingluck, the prime minister. But coming out [to criticise Chai] doesn't mean they have to necessarily support Yingluck. If they don't, then who else will?"

'women still objectified'

Pinkaew said regarding women as mere objects is still prevalent in Thailand and the Kingdom has yet to develop political correctness when it comes to gender issues.

In Thailand, she said, there's an attempt to change the Thai word for whore and prostitute to sex worker, in order to challenge the established meaning and attain a broader nuance in order to perceive a sex worker as a 'worker'.

Lily, a Chiang Mai-based 37-year-old veteran sex worker and a volunteer with Empower group, an NGO which promotes the rights of sex workers, told The Nation on the phone that Chai should think twice before using the notion of "whore" (kari) as a launching PAD to criticise others.

She said sex workers in Thailand are still fighting to have their work recognised as legal, adding that sex workers don't just sell their bodies, but are often offer emotional support to their clients as well.

"Sex work is a job," Lily said. "They don't see us as human, though some of us are bread winners. They have forgotten to respect us as human."

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/05/09/thai-society-sees-women-as-lowly/