Politics and Muslim women in the Deep South of Thailand: roles, opportunities, and challenges

Abstract

This study investigates the political representation of Malay Muslim women in the Deep South of Thailand. It addresses the research question(s) about whether the identities of either being Malay or Muslim impede the participation of women in formal politics. The research results demonstrate that the intricate cultural dimensions of identifying as Malay, Muslim, and Thai have collectively influenced the political roles of women in the Deep South. Typically, leadership positions in politics are perceived as male-oriented domains. The study suggests that new values are needed to increase the participation of Malay Muslim women in politics, particularly among young generations. Despite the acceptance of women in public space, the roles of women are often presented as one who has the responsibility to look after the family rather than engage in politics. The research highlights the challenges that Malay Muslim women face in formal politics. Cultural layers of religion, values in Malay society, and Thai political culture are obstacles that impede their participation in formal politics. More research is needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Keywords:

• Formal politics
• women
• Malay
• Muslim
• deep south

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the participants who agreed to participate in the research. Their contributions were invaluable to the success of this project. I am also grateful to Thailand Research Fund for providing financial support for this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Imron Sahoh et al., “The Dynamics of Melayu Muslim Politicians’ Movements Amidst the Violence in the Southern Border Province,” Thailand Science Research and Innovation (THRI), 2020.

2 Karunlak Bhaholyotin, “Basic Information Study Project on Gender and Politics” (King Prajadhipok's Institute, Nonthaburi, 2006).

3 Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, Parichart Suwanbubbha, and Montipa Yimyong, “Women at a Periphery of the Deep South Peace Process: A Perspective of Female Victims of Violent Conflict,” Journal of MCU Peace Studies, no. 1 (2017): 14–27; Saowarot Pluemjai and Utit Sungkharat, “Peace Development in Southern Border Provinces: The Women’s Story,” Inthanin Thaksin Journal Thaksin University 10, no. 1 (2015): 225–43.

4 Hafissa Salae, “Muslim Women Amidst Conflict: The Transition from Victim to Peace Activist” (Master's thesis, Chulalongkorn University, 2010).

5 Civic Women, “The Voice of Hope: A Female Narrative for Processes of Peace in Southern Thailand,” (Civil Society Women Project under the Food Security and Career for Men Program and Vulnerable Women in Southern Thailand, Pattani, 2012).

6 See information in Anna Suwardi and Paul Chambers, “The Evolution of Women’s Civil Society Organizations in the Deep South of Thailand,” Asian Affairs: An American Review 50, no. 1 (2023): 51–75.

7 This study highlights the reference to Raya as Queens, drawing on multiple Malay references that designate these queens with the title “Raja,” as explored in Daniel Perret, “B. The Sultanate of Patani: Sixteenth-Seventeenth Centuries Domestic Issues.” Archipel. Études interdisciplinaires sur le monde insulindien Hors-Série n° 2-Patani Through Foreign Eyes: Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (Edited By Daniel Perret & Jorge Santos Alves) (2022), and also in Andries Teeuw and David K. Wyatt, “The Hikayat Patani and Related Texts.” Hikayat Patani the Story of Patani (1970): 25–49.

8 Cited in Chaiwat Satha-Anand, “Imagined Land?: The State and Southern Violence in Thailand” (Matichon, Bangkok, 2008).

9 Amporn Mardent, “Women's Political Participation in Peacebuilding in Southern Thailand,” Thammasat Journal of History 4, no. 1 (2017): 64–113.

10 Nidhi Eoseewong, “History of Malayu and Patani, in Malay Studies: Basic Knowledge on Malay People in Southern Thailand” (Amarin, Bangkok, 2007).

11 Andrea Fleschenberg, “Asia’s Women Politicians at the Top: Roaring Tigresses or Tame Kittens,” in Women’s Political Participation and Representation in Asia: Obstacles and Challenges (2018), 30–61.

12 Mark R. Thompson, “Female Leadership of Democratic Transitions in Asia,” Pacific Affairs 75, no. 4 (2002): 535–55.

13 Wipapan Wongsawang, “Women in Politics: What Are They Talking About?,” The Momentum, March 7, 2018, https://themomentum.co/women-in-politics/

14 The College of Local Administration Development at Prajadhipok's Institute, “Women and Politics: Reality, Political Space and Movement” (King Prajadhipok's Institute, Nonthaburi, 2018).; and Sukritta Chindaphrom and Chotima Kaewkong, “Political Participation of Thai Women in the Western Local Government Area,” Journal of Politics and Governance 3, no. 3 (2013): 118–33.

15 The Inter-Parliamentary Union, “Women in National Parliaments,” last modified May 16, http://archive.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm (accessed April 2, 2023).

16 Maytinee Bhongsve, “Gender Mainstreaming in the Civil Service: Policy Implementation Process Analysis” (Gender and Development Research Institute, Bangkok, 2001).

17 Pavinee Bunnag, “Women in Thai Jurisdiction from the Reign of King Chulalongkorn to 1935 A.D.: Through the Study of Lawsuits and Petitions,” (Thesis, Thammasat University, 2009).

18 Kazuki Iwanaga and Marjorie Suriyamongkol, “Women and Politics in Thailand,” Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (April 30, 2008).

19 Vichan Say-on, “Provisions on Women's Rights According to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2018” (The Secretariat of the House of Representatives, Bangkok, 2018).

20 The College of Local Administration Development at Prajadhipok's Institute, “Women and Politics: Reality, Political Space and Movement” (King Prajadhipok's Institute, Nonthaburi, 2018).

21 Suchart Setthamalinee and Wisoot Binlateh, “Muslim Adolescents and the Modern World” (Social Research Institute Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 2014).

22 Angkhana Neelaphaijit, “Roles and Challenges of Malay Muslim amidst Violence in Thailand's Southern Border Provinces” (Work Group on Justice for Peace, Bangkok, 2010).

23 Amporn Mardent, “Women's Political Participation in Peacebuilding in Southern Thailand,” Thammasat Journal of History 4, no. 1 (2017): 64–113.

24 Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, Parichart Suwanbubbha, and Montipa Yimyong, “Women at a Periphery of the Deep South Peace Process: A Perspective of Female Victims of Violent Conflict,” Journal of MCU Peace Studies, no. 1 (2017): 14–27.

25 Taweeluck Pollachom, “Social and Cultural Conditions and Contexts Lead to a Transition in Peace-building Work in Public among Muslim Women in the Southern Borders of Thailand” (Master thesis, Walailak University, 2015).

26 Imron Sahoh et al., “The Dynamics of Melayu Muslim Politicians’ Movements amidst the Violence in the Southern Border Province,” Thailand Science Research and Innovation (THRI), 2020.

27 Bukhoree Yeema, “Why Democrat Party has been monopolized the South?,” Matichon, December 18, 2018, https://www.matichon.co.th/article/news_1277764

28 Interview, 27 January 2020.

29 Somsak Assavasirisilp, “Success Factors for Thai Women Politicians Approach to Political Participation,” The National Defence College of Thailand Journal 60, no. 3 (2018): 34–46.

30 Stithorn Thananithichot, “Advantages of Dynastic Candidates in an Election,” Journal of Social Sciences 45, no. 2 (2015): 49–74.

31 Interview, 1 September 2019.

32 Suchart Setthamalinee and Wisoot Binlateh, ibid.

33 Ron Shaham, “Rethinking Islamic Legal Modernism: The Teaching of Yusuf al-Qaradawi,” Brill, 2018.

34 Interview, 8 September 2020.

35 Interview, 9 September 2020.

36 See more information in Yasmin Sattar, Imron Sahoh, and Abdulawwal Sidi. “Debate on Political Leadership and Muslim Women Politicians in the Deep South of Thailand”. Journal of Islamic Studies, Prince of Songkhla University 12, no. 1 (2021): 27–42. https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JOIS/article/view/250172.

37 I use the term ‘Hijab’ in a broad understanding sense to denote the practice of wearing a headscarf. This usage is for the sake of simplicity in presentation and does not aim to overlook the diverse and debatable cultural connotations linked to the term ‘Hijab’.

38 Farzana Bari, “Women’s Political Participation: Issues and Challenges”, paper presented at United Nations, Division for Advancement of Women (DAW), an expert Group Meeting held at Bangkok, Thailand, 2005.

39 King Prajadhipok's Institute, “Women and Politics,” (Thammada Press, Nonthaburi, 2008)

40 Interview, 22 December 2019.

41 Jiraporn Domjun, “ประชาธิปไตยที่ไม่ตั้งมั่น (Unstable Democracy)” (Matichon Press, Bangkok, 2019).

42 Suchart Setthamalinee and Wisoot Binlateh, ibid.; Amporn Marddent, “The Concept of Islamic Feminism: A Review,” Thammasat Journal of History 4, no. 1 (2017): 62–113.

43 Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, 2016).

44 Imron Sahoh et al., ibid.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yasmin Sattar

Yasmin Sattar ([email protected]) is a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science at Prince of Songkhla University, Thailand. She is interested in the politics of ethnicity especially among Muslim minority in the Deep South of Thailand. Also, her area of studies focuses upon Turkish politics and influence of Turkey toward Muslim community in Southeast Asia.

Imron Sahoh

Imron Sahoh is a researcher at the Center for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity, Institute of Peace Studies, Prince of Songkhla University, Thailand. He is interested in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Thailand’s Deep South.