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Womens's political participation: Housewife societies. (Reports On Thai Political Developments).
Translated from Nidhi Eowsriwongse, "Housewife Societies," Matichon Weekly 19.1008 (14 December 1999): 47.
Notes on the translation: While attempts have been made to keep Nidhi's original voices and views, some addition, clarification and organizational adjustments have been made for English-speaking readers. WSN is responsible for the discrepancies between the original Thai-language version and the English translation.
The activities of Housewife Societies have yet to enter news circulation; therefore I will write about them here. This writing relies on my memories rather than on rigorous research. If my memories serve me right--which is rare for people of my age--the activities of Housewife Societies have begun reaching media circulation only during the past 2-3 decades. It would be wrong to say Housewife Societies have had a lot of social activities during these decades. It's more accurate to say that during these 2-3 decades serious efforts have been made to publicize the activities of Housewife Societies.
To understand the functions of Housewife Societies in Thailand, certain background information must be brought forth:
1. Thailand does not have societies of lawyers' housewives, teachers' housewives, university professors' housewives, taxi drivers' housewives, tax collectors' housewives.
Thus, Housewife Societies in Thailand are not just ordinary organizations for any housewives, definitely not for the wives of any civil service personnel and not for the wives of any male professionals. The formation of Housewife Societies that are in existence in Thailand today has been facilitated and supported by a few organizations. Among these organizations, none is a private organization. All are the brainchild of particular state organizations.
2. Housewife Societies in Thailand belong to the rank-and-file organizations, namely the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Police, and the Local Administration Department of the Ministry of Interior. These Housewife Societies prescribe their own uniforms for members to wear at official functions. The color of each Housewife Society uniform matches that of its counterpart husbands' organizations.