Introduction

Gender equality is heavily discussed in the past few decades. Traditionally, gender roles led to
gender discrimination and unfair treatment of the sexes. In the progressive world, countries are
making efforts to reduce this inequality and promote a better living environment for both gen-
ders. In order to do this, one must examine the status of women in that particular country and the
achievements they have made to approach this goal. This report will be focusing on the women
of Thailand, particularly their education, political participation, and employment, and inspecting
the progress towards gender equality Thailand has achieved.

Education

Thailand has one of the highest levels of literacy among the developing countries in Asia. The
total populations literacy rate is 92.6%; male, 94.9%; female, 90.5% (Hays, 2008). This is most
likely the result of the law that allows everyone in the nation to receive primary and secondary
education free of cost. Understandably, the gender gap is considerably small; further, it has de-
creased markedly from 8% in 1971 to less than 2% in 2009 (Romanow, 2012). Additionally, in
higher education, enrollment data reports more female students than male students. However,
there seems to still be a lack of women in fields such as science, engineering, or politics
(Mekrungruengkul, 2011).

Political Participation

In Thailand, the participation of women in politics is extremely rare. While it may seem like
there might be a gradual transition, the gender gap is not narrowing by much. Statistics show that
as of the latest election, less than 15% of the members of parliament and only 16% of senators
are female (Mekrungruengkul, 2011). Although these numbers are increasing from previous
years, the difference is barely noticeable.

A few years ago, in 2011, Thailand elected its first and only female prime minister, Yingluck
Shinawatra. In spite of this, claims suggest that she may have been elected because of the peo-
ples support for her brother a man (Chia, 2016). Shinawatra had been widely known as the
sister of Taksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister whom was adored by many. Her winning
campaign was: What Taksin thinks, Phuea Thai [the political party she represents] does. Fur-
thermore, during her term, Shinawatra was faced with an overwhelming amount of criticism in
which citizens considered her to be inferior to her male counterparts especially Taksin (Pro-
file: Yingluck Shinawatra, 2017).

Employment

In the last decade, there has been a immense amount of progress in the status of women in the
work place. The Gender Equality Act was established by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in
2015, declaring any act of gender discrimination unlawful, which was instrumental to the pros-
perity of working women. Because of this act, there are now more opportunities for them, such
as more job positions and higher salaries for these jobs. Women currently constitute 48 percent
of the labor force, 61 percent in the hospitality and service industry, and 54 percent in the manu-
facturing industry (Women in the Labor Force, n.d.).

While Thai women contribute substantially in the workplace and to the countrys economic
growth, there still is a gender bias that exists in the workplace environment. There have been
cases of women receiving lower wages than men in the same position, with the same amount of
experience. There is also a low number of women in management positions. In one study of 203
companies, data shows that the majority (around 74%) have only one to four female executives
as opposed to over ten male executives (Wailerdsak, 2009).

Conclusion

At first glance, Thailand may seem to have achieved gender equality women receive the same
level of education as men, are given the virtually same opportunities in the labor force, and even
have an active role in politics. One could say that it is superior in these qualities compared to
many other Asian countries. Through a closer inspection, however, one would realize that they
do face a lack of empowerment, an issue that the nation is tackling. Changes have been imple-
mented to try to improve upon this issue, but Thailand has yet to completely resolve all of the
underlying problems rooted in its society. Despite the slow pace, Thailand is moving in the right
direction.

References
Chia, J. (2016). The Privileged Lie of Gender Equality in Thailand. Harvard International Re-
view. Retrieved 2 October 2017, from http://hir.harvard.edu/article/?a=13011

Hays, J. (2008). Education in Thailand: History, Literacy, Women, Universities, Improve-

ments. Facts and Details. Retrieved 4 October 2017, from http://factsandde-
tails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8g/entry-3297.html

Mekrungruengkul, S. (2011). Women in Thailand. Heinrich Boell Foundation Imprint. Retrieved

from https://www.gwi-boell.de/en/2011/03/07/briefing-report-women-thailand

Profile: Yingluck Shinawatra. (2017). BBC News. Retrieved 2 October 2017, from
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13723451

Romanow, L. (2012). The Women of Thailand. Global Majority E-Journal, 3(1), 44-60. Re-
trieved from https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/pub/1998/women_thailand.pdf

Wailerdsak, N. (2009). Corporate Women Managers. In T. Andrews & S. Siengthai, The Chang-
ing Face of Management in Thailand. Routledge.

[Women in the Labor Force and Econ-

omy]. Thailand's Gender Information Center. Office of Womens Affairs, Ministry of So-
cial Development. Retrieved 12 October 2017, from http://www.gender.go.th/report/re-
port50/economy.html

Target Grammar Application Sheet

Assignment name: Short Report
Target Grammar: Using academic language, old-new information flow, verbs that indicate
change
Examples Explanation/ details
Using Academic Language
make up > constitute formal verb instead of phrasal verb
climb toward > approach

In order to do this, one must examine Avoiding I and you

This report will be focusing on
Through a closer inspection, however, one would real-
ize

its = it is Avoiding contractions

theres = there is

old-new information flow

Traditionally, gender roles led to gender discrimina- old: traditional gender roles led to discrimina-
tion and unfair treatment of the sexes. In the progres- tion and unfair treatment
sive world, countries are making efforts to reduce this new: this inequality (discrimination/unfair
inequality and treatment) is being reduced

A few years ago, in 2011, Thailand elected its first and old: Shinawatra was elected
only female prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. In new: she was elected because .
spite of this, claims suggest that she may have been
elected because of the peoples support for her brother
a man (Chia, 2016).

The Gender Equality Act was established by the late old: the gender equality act was established
King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2015, declaring any act new: because of this act, .
of gender discrimination unlawful, which . Because
of this act, there are

language to indicate change (from EOAW)

decreased markedly from to verb that describes a decrease (change of state)
+ change-of-state adverbs expressing the de-
gree

reduce inequality verb (transitive) that describes a decrease +

noun (direct object)

gender gap is not narrowing by much *(emphasizing a lack of change)

narrow = verb (intransitive) that describes a
decrease
Grammar Correction Log
Assignment name: Short Report

Sentences with Errors Description of Er- Explanation and Correction

ror/Correction Remarks
Symbol

A few years ago in 2011, sentence structure - lacking punctuation A few years ago, in
Thailand elected its first punctuation, confusing (comma) 2011, Thailand elected
and only female prime min- grammar, or word or- its first and only fe-
ister. der problem male prime minister

While it may seem like word choice - inaccu- not really narrowing While it may seem like
there might be a gradual rate word choice or sounds awkward and is there might be a grad-
transition, the gender gap is collocation not the right way to say ual transition, the gen-
not really narrowing by it der gap is not narrow-
much. ing by much.
In the last decade, there verb tense/wrong tense a huge amount of pro- In the last decade, there
have been a huge amount gress = singular has been a huge
of progress in the status of (have > has) amount of progress in
women in the work place. the status of women in
the work place.
The Gender Equality Act word choice - inaccu- the definition of well- The Gender Equality
was put in place by the late rate word choice or being doesnt fit well Act was put in place by
King Bhumibol Adulyadej collocation into this sentence, the late King Bhumibol
in 2015, declaring any act since it is about a Adulyadej in 2015, de-
of gender discrimination workplace situation claring any act of gen-
unlawful, which was in- der discrimination un-
strumental to the wellbeing lawful, which was in-
of working women. strumental to the pros-
perity of working
women.

There have been cases of
women receiving lower
wages than a man in the
same position with the
same amount of experi-
ence.
noun ending/singular women = plural There have been cases
or plural a man = singular of women receiving
lower wages than men
in the same position
with the same amount
of experience.