Questionnaire
Survey Questionnaire
Women’s Political Participation in Thailand
NOTE: My name is Suchittra Ritsakulchai. I am currently a doctoral degree student working on my dissertation, which is a part of the requirements for completing my doctoral degree in the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan. Thank you for your cooperation to complete this questionnaire, which will be used for academic research only.
INSTRUCTIONS: This questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to carefully read and fill up your answers, spontaneously.
All of your responses become valuable for this academic research.
Part I: Demographic and Other Variables.
PLEASE PUT A CHECK () IN THE BOX IN EACH QUESTION.
1. Sex (1) Male (2) Female
9. Have you ever participated in politics (Local and/or National level)?
(1) Yes (2) No
10. If you answer YES (followed Q9), which activities did you take part in? (You can choose more than one choice) (1) Voting (2) Being a candidate in local level (3) Being a candidate for the nation
(4) Proposing the law (5) Be a members of political party (6) Others, please specify ……….……
Part II: Attitude about Women’s Political Participation and the Acceptance of Women’s Role in Thailand Please put a check () to give the degree of your agreements according to the statements of each item.
Items Level of Degrees
1. The Thai Constitution B.E. 2560 Section 27 states that “All people, both men and women shall enjoy equal rights”. The Thai constitution is a supporting factor for women to access the political sphere.
(Constitution) Political Processes
2. Processes to political access, such as the recruitment of candidates and campaigns in Thailand. These activities do not facilitate women. There are many hindrances which obstruct women accessing politics.
(Process1)
3. Nowadays, processes accessing the political sphere have gradually developed and females have more opportunities.(Process2)
Political Parties
4. Political parties should promote and increasingly encourage women’s political participation. The proportion of women candidates is considered in the general election to promote access for professional women to the political sphere.(Parties1)
5. Political parties and popular male politicians should join campaigns for women candidates during the general election.(Parties2)
Items Level of Degrees 6. Political parties should increase their budgets in
election campaigns for women representatives.
Moreover, political parties should reform their policies for women’s participation.(Parties3)
National Policies and Plans
7. National Economic and Social Development Plans are crucial strategies that could support and encourage Thai women’s political participation.(Plan)
Independent Variables (Non-institutional Factors)
Personal Leadership
8. The characteristic of women’s political leadership is a major factor that influences voters’ decisions during general elections.(Characteristics)
The Acceptance from Thai Citizens and Community
9. Presently, Thai citizens cannot accept women holding higher political positions at both national and local levels.(Acceptance1)
10. The role of women in politics is still not accepted by Thai citizens because they believe that males can govern better than females. (Acceptance2)
11. Women who hold higher political positions have to monitor/control/ encourage as coordinators to solve problems and benefit local people.(Acceptance3) The Context of Thai Society
12. Currently, Thai society can facilitate women to participate in political activities and hold higher political positions both at national and local levels.(Society)
Items Level of Degrees
13. The characteristic of government is assimilated through authority such as Paternalism. This affects women with lack of confidence and passive action.
Nowadays, this political culture still influences the role of women.(Value1)
14. Religious beliefs affect the role of women in politics. For example, Buddhism identifies that males can be monks, but females cannot. Religious belief influences higher status of males rather than females.
(Value2)
15. The Thai proverb, “Men are the front legs of the elephant and women are the back” implies that males are the strongest sex or leaders of the family.(Value3) Family Background
16. Females hold political positions inherited from people in the family –father or husband as their former political positions both at national and local levels.
This situation helped women to gain more confidence due to intimate political experiences from their family.
(Family1)
17. Females are held as leaders of the community with high political experience and this increases confidences for campaigns and higher political positions.(Family2) 18. Females have higher potential, education, budget and popularity among people. These factors facilitate women to take part in political roles.(Family3) Motivation/Inspiration
19. Do you think that motivation/inspiration influences women accessing political activities? (Motivation)
Items Level of Degrees and have a good family background definitely gain a successful opportunity to hold higher political positions”.(Socioeconomic)
Economic Development
21. Currently, economic development is an important factor to indicate people’s well-being. Women must opportunities to hold increasingly higher political positions.(Implementation1)
23. The government should allocate an annual statement of expenditure about women’s political participation. In addition to this implementation, the government should cooperate with private agencies, including NGOs.
(Implementation2)
The influence of mass media on Thai women in politics
24. Mass Media should take an important role to promote the public activities of women representatives to create women’s images appropriately. (Media)
Conclusion
25. The most supporting factors of women’s political participation
(Please put the phrases below in order from 1 = the Least, 2 = Less, 3 = More, and 4 = the Most)
... A) Institutional Factors (Constitution, Law, Political Party and National Plan) ... B) Cultural Factors (Traditional values, Religion and Family Background) ... C) Economic Factors
... D) Organizations (Government, Mass Media, and NGOs) 26. The most obstructing factors of women’s political participation
(Please put the phrases below in order from 1 = the Least, 2 = Less, 3 = More, and 4 = the Most)
... A) Institutional Factors (Constitution, Law, Political Party and National Plan) ... B) Cultural Factors (Traditional values, Religion and Family Background) ... C) Economic Factors
... D) Organizations (Government, Mass Media, and NGOs)
Dependent Variables (Thai women’s political participation/representatives)
27. How do you think the gender quota system is considered between males and females to hold higher political positions at national level; such as Member of the House of Representatives, Senate, and Ministers? PLEASE PUT A CHECK ()
... (1) I agree ... (2) I disagree
... (3) Not consider sex, but focus on the potential of candidates
28. How do you think the gender quota system is considered between males and females to hold higher political positions at local level; such as Provincial Council, Municipal Council and Sub-district Organization Administration? PLEASE PUT A CHECK ()
... (1) I agree ... (2) I disagree
... (3) Not consider sex, but focus on the potential of candidates ... (4) Others
29. Do you think equality in political status between men and women is comparable at present? PLEASE PUT A CHECK ()
... (1) Equality ... (2) Inequality
... (3) Depends on responsibility and abilities
30.The most important reasons regarding the low numbers of female representatives
Please chose 5 reasons from the below lists and put the phrases below in order from 1 = the Least, 2 = Less, 3 = Neutral, 4= More, and 5 = the Most
... A) People don’t like to choose women candidates because males are able to govern better than females
... B) Women are not interested in political participation
... C) Election by people is not related to gender issues
... D) Political parties do not give opportunities for women in election campaigns ... E) Women are interested in politics but they don’t like political struggles ... F) Jealous women do not support female candidates
... G) Thai politics follows the patronage system
... H) Lack of budgets for campaigns and the application of a candidate ... I) Others
Part III: Other Suggestions
Please give more comments or further information you need to express about women’s political participation in Thailand.
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Thank you for your cooperation