The Promotion Of The Role Of Women In The Economic, Social And Cultural Development Of A Subdistrict Municipality: Case Studies Of Kutdu Subdistrict Municipality, Nonsang Subdistrict Municipality, Khoksri Subdistrict Municipality, Yangtalat Subdistrict Mu

Abstract

                   This research aims (1) to study the promotion of the role of women in the economic, social, and cultural development of a subdistrict municipality, (2) to study the role of women in the economic, social, and cultural development of a subdistrict municipality, (3) to study the factors that helped support the role of women in the economic, social, and cultural development of a subdistrict municipality, and (4) to study the guideline of how to effectively develop the role of women in the economic, social, and cultural development of a subdistrict municipality.

                   This research, a case study, is a qualitative documentary research, relying on observation and depth interview. The key informants were from 5 groups: the group of local government organizations, the group of women leaders, the group of community-developing activity heads, the group of local intellectuals, and the group of scholars in the field of public administration and political science with expertise in local government and feminism.

                    The results showed that, in the municipality, the promotion of the women’s roles in the economic, social and cultural development was scarcely found. Woman groups played important roles in economic, social and cultural development of subdistrict municipality through their extra income earning, contributing in others village development projects, and participating in local tradition called “Heat 12 Kong 14” or “12 laws of tradition and 14 trails”) 

                   Factors supporting the roles of women included (1) gender equality, (2) awareness of human rights, (3) more opportunities for women in society (4) changes in the economic and social structure, which resulted in women’s greater roles.  In contrast, the obstacles included (1) lack of organizational coordination to promote women's groups, and (2) women’s attitudes in terms of gender inferiority. According to the findings, the solutions included (1) creating coordinating organization in order to promote women’s group activities, (2) encouraging women to gain more confidence and know their potentials, (3) supporting women’s groups to earn higher education, (4) encouraging women’s groups to join knowledge sharing and create community network (5) changing the attitudes towards community development, which could be done by both men and women.