Abstract:
The objectives of this mixed-method research were 1) to study status and leadership roles of women in social development, 2) to study factors influencing leadership roles of women in social development, 3) to analyze trends of leadership roles of women in social development. In order to determine the status and leadership roles of women in social development, the researcher used a questionnaire to survey opinion of 384 women living in the East of Thailand. To confirm and conclude the research findings, 9 experts took part in a focus group. Data collection instruments in this study were a questionnaire, and a structured interview guide.
The collected data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and a content analysis technique.
This study reports that
1) On average, status and leadership roles of women in social development were rated at a high level. The most considered roles were respectively rated as their roles in 1) society,
2) culture, and 3) environment.
2) Roles of women in social development could be seen as follows: In the society: doing volunteer job, working collaboratively with other people in a community, exercising
a power in negotiations, forming groups enhancing quality of life of others. In the economy: monitoring and managing domestic expenses, developing creative economy and the use of technology, negotiating a business to ensure the fairness of the economy in the community.
In culture: possessing characteristics facilitating leadership work and encouraging others to take part in cultural activities, becoming a good role model and raising awareness concerning ethical practices in family and community, protecting and maintaining local wisdoms. In Politics: opening up possible opportunities for women to enter work in local government organizations and other government organizations, promoting women knowledge concerning politics, laws and regulations so that humans rights, roles and responsibility of women in society could be greatly aware. In environment: becoming leaders developing environmental protection projects, encourage people in society to aware of values of environment and the environmental sustainable development, promoting environmental activities and encouraging people in the community to take part.
3) Directions of future roles of women in social development could be seen in 5 working area. W1: Women should encourage other people to do volunteer work to ensure the empowerment of the community. These volunteer work could be found in the area of education promoting social acceptance in women capability. W2: Women should lead creative economy
by managing domestic economy, improving their technological competency and being able to do business negotiation in their community. W3: Women should promote Thainess and local wisdoms. These can be done by becoming role models in preserving, maintaining and instilling moral and accepted behaviors to people in the society. W4: Women should help ensure harmony in their community. These can be done through improving their knowledge concerning basic laws. Moreover, they could take the role of the leaders working on human rights projects. W5: Women should be aware of environmental conservation according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. They should enhance their understanding through learnings about environment and become role models in environmental conservation as well as leaders in environmental protection projects.