Jarunee Pimpinit Na Nakhon Phanom, 59 years old, local politician at Kalasin Province

a) Personal background

Jarunee graduated with a Master Degree in Political Communication at Krik University, Bangkok. She was a local politician for 20 years. She served as former Chief Executive of Provincial Administration Organization, Muang District, Kalasin Province. Moreover, she was appointed as a member of the Provincial Administration Organization and former Chairman of Provincial Administration Organization. Moreover, she was a member of the Charthaipattana Party, she was also secretary of Local Governance Committee in the House of Representative.

b) Perceptions about women’s political participation in Thailand

Jarunee illustrated that the proportion of women’s political participation in all areas and provinces was still low at 20-50 percent. She accentuated that the family institution greatly affected women’s political empowerment, especially at the local level. Similarly, she noticed that Thai political parties usually recruited more men candidates than women to get winnable seats, and gender inequality was an important problem related to the government. In addition to the role of parties, she asserted that many parties still concentrated on the national political arena and they also ignored the local candidates. Similarly, she confirmed the supporting budget as another facilitating factor for local women politicians. According to the national plan, she accentuated that it was only official documents which did not facilitate local women’s political participation.

Regarding leadership personality, she believed that women’s identities were self-confidence and quick decisions and she confirmed that woman candidates had not only charismatic personalities but also required high qualifications of education, family background and social status. According to her political experiences, she explained that people in the past negatively investigated women candidates; however, current Thai women participated gradually in the political sphere because people increasingly accepted the potential and knowledge of women candidates.

According to a Thai proverb, “Women are the back legs of elephants.” This implied that Thai society was still dominated by the role of men. She accentuated that Thai society did not facilitate women’s participation. Similarly, religion, culture, social attitudes and family conditions were major obstacles for women in local politics; particularly the latter which was the most important factor to access women’s political participation (both national and local levels).

Furthermore, she pointed to family financial status as a major influencing factor for local women’s decisions to run for candidates. She agreed with cooperation between the government, NGOs and mass media and she also suggested that these organizations should promote and seriously encourage women’s political participation, and give political knowledge to all Thai women regarding gender equality and political participation at all levels.

In addition, she agreed that the Thai Constitution was the most important factor to specify the proportion of representatives for women having more opportunity to access national politics.

She expected that the percentages of women both in national and local representatives would soon be 50 percent.

Finally, she summarized that family conditions, well-known candidates, and the supporting budget were the most significant factors for local women representatives. On the contrary, traditional values, religion, culture and family background were the most obstructing factors to accessing local women’s empowerment.

7. Dr. Khomkhai Udonpim, 54 years old, Chief Executive of Provincial Administration Organization, Mahasarakham Province

a) Personal background

Khomkhai graduated with Ph.D. in Regional Development Strategies from Mahasarakham Rajabhat University, Mahasarakham Province. For 12 years, she has served as a local politician in Mahasarakham Province. Currently, she has appointed as chief executive of provincial administration organization.

b) Perceptions about women’s political participation in Thailand

She indicated that opportunity in the society has opened wide for women; however, the number of women politicians was low. Nevertheless, she noticed positively that Thai society opened widely for all people, and the villagers also increasingly accepted local women politicians.

In the case of Mahasarakham Province, a great number of women were interested in local

administration, particularly in the Provincial Administration Organization. Similarly, she accentuated that the Thai Constitution facilitated women accessing political participation.

Furthermore, political parties still gave more opportunity and support to Thai women’s participation. She also emphasized that both the Constitution and national development plans could promote and advocate women’s empowerment as well as members of Provincial Administration Organizations and members of Municipal Organizations.

She noted that every woman was embedded in the leadership because a woman had gender identity characteristics as gentle, tender, prudent and quick-witted. She noted that people in the past believed women to be the back legs of elephants but in the present several women were in higher political positions such as Prime Minister, minister, governor, deputy district, and village headman, including chief executives, board and senior managers in private sectors and NGOs.

Regarding Thai society, she accentuated that Thai people gradually accepted the abilities and knowledge of women politicians. She believed that traditional values were not problem issues.

From her political experiences, she guaranteed that a woman could be an effective leader, same as men.

According to her political experiences, she believed that family background was an influencing factor for women’s empowerment because her father was an important role model as a local politician. Similarly, she indicated that socioeconomic status was a basic factor for women’s participation. Moreover, she also emphasized that female politicians should have public spirit as a primary qualification. She accentuated that mass media impacted directly on people, especially social media (Facebook, Line and Instagram). Consequently, the number of local people interested in political participation was increasing. Lastly, she suggested that collaboration between the government, NGOs and the private sector should promote women’s status and push forward seriously for women accessing political participation.

She agreed that the gender quota system could increase the proportion of women in the Parliament, but this measure may be difficult in practice because of the Thai political system. In any case, she also expected to see 50 percent of women as national and local representatives.

Lastly, she concluded that education and gender equality were supporting factors to increase the number of women participating; however, traditional values and culture were the most important obstacles to women’s political access.

8. Nongluck Tuengchan, local politician in Mahasarakham Province