Abstract:
This thesis is a study on the development of Thai women's rights and duties from the remote past to the present, focusing on the Bangkok Era (1782 - 1976). The principal scrrcesof the study are ancient and modern laws and enactments, public and foreign materials. The main purposes of this study are: to discuss the various stages of social and cultural development of the Thai women's status, compared with these in some other countries; to clarify muddled thinking on this highly controversial topic, i.c. women's rights, where inequalities and fallacies are seen for what they are; to stress the potential of Woman as man's life partner; and to attempt to bring about a change of attitude. Toward women for better understanding. From time immemerial up to the present day. Thai women have suffered from various forms of suppression and discrimination. The husband alone possessed what were called paternal powers over the family. Both the wives and the children wore under his authority. He could chastise his wife or wives. The wife, who was his beloved and the "Mistress of the Rouse" (Mae Chao Ruen), by law becameprivileged as his "Major Wife". All wives know where they stood and their lives. were to be spent in the care of the husband, the children and the home. In public, they were traditionally regarded as the hind legs of the elephant. But inspite of the fact that they seemingly load a sheltered life at home, many ofthem have great influence over their men, whother husbands and sons. Only a century ago, Thai women were deemed by law as part of their husbands' property& He could sell or pledge any of his wives to anybody. The husband alone had the right to decide in the management of the community property. When a marriage come to and end either by death or divorce, the husband was entilled to two thirds of the community property on the legal maxim : "Chat Harb, Ying Korn", i.e. the man bears the heavy burden and the woman bears the light burden. A woman's right or ability to hold a responsible job apart from domestic duties had not been recognised. These prejudices against women have deep historical and psychological roots. They were responsible for a fair part of marital friction and unhappiness in that homes, and undeniably one of the main causes for the impoverishment of our society. One of the first signs of Thai women's liberation was shown in the year 1935, when the laws on Familyand Succession in the Civil and Commercial Code wore passed. The year witnessed considerable improvements in the legal position of women. Under this Code, a man can have only one lawful wife. The community property must be shared equally between the husband and the wife on the termination of their marriage, but the wife cannot buy or sell any property without the husband's consent. Neither can the wife petition for divorce on the ground of her husband having misstresses or minor wives, but adultery by the wife constitutes a ground for diverce for the husband. When Thai women started receiving higher education, especially after the second World War, their status gradually improved. Also the economic pressure for them to work outside home to help the husband, the bread winner, to make both ends meet has been increasingly apparent during the last 20 years. Thai women has suffered some disadvantages in employment. Several professional jobs have been denied to women, e.g. military, judicial and administrative posts. Wages for women have been lower than those for men in most jobs. Complete equality before the law between man and woman were secured just two years ago by the provision of section 28 of the new Constitution. However, all the laws discriminating rights, duties, and responsibilities on the basis of sax remain to be changed accordingly in due course. Needless to say, there is still a strong prejudice against women. This difficulty can only gradually be removed by women themselves showing what they can do as the occasion arises, An equally difficult, but more persisting task for Thai women is how best to strike a balance between home and work, a new dual way of life for modern Thai women. It is hoped that this study will be of some benefit, not only to those who are interested in thai women's rights, but also to the thai society at large, especially as the emphasis is laid upon the posibilities of contribution of modern thai women towards building up better homes and a better society.