RATIONAL

The academic world needs to be open-minded and free so that the social sciences relating to women are encouraged and extended to keep pace with other studies. A systematic and thorough analysis of the status, role, and social standing of women at all levels, whether economic, social , or political, is essential.

It is the direct responsibility of educational institution to acquire knowledge and expertise in women's studies and to disseminate them to the community. The development of such insights is a continuing process.

Women's studies have received incresing attention in the last decades since the United Nations first designed 1975 as International Women's Year, with the objective of promoting equality between men and women and encouraging women's participaiton in the development and maintenace of world peace. The years between 1975 and 1985 were also declared the United Nations Decade for Women. Member States were requested to set up national machinaries for the advancement of women. The Thai Government Plan (1982-1986) by desgining women a special target group. It was recoginzed that women's economic, social and political roles and capabilities needed to be urgently developped.

Even though the United Nations Decade for Women has ended , this does not mean that women's studies should cease. It is an important task for any government to develop the country, a process in which women have a signficant role. In development it is necessary to consider global conditions relating cooperation in the exchange and discussion of women's issues, particularly in the ASEAN region.

The Faculty of Social Sciences of Changmai University established a Women's Studies Program in 1986. In August 1993 as set forth in the Seventh National Plan on Economic and Social Development(1992-1996), the Women's Studies Center, Faculty of Social Sciences, was officially established to encourage the study, reserach, and collection of information relating to women's issues, with special emphasis on northern Thailand. The Center also coordinates with other governmental and non-governmental organizations in working towards the developments of women. The resilting achievements are meant to be disseminated for the benefit of the community.

OBJECTIVES

To encourage the study, research, and collection of information relating to women's issues;

To establish a source of data and infomationabout women;

To create an ongoing axademic exchange on women's issues;

To create a liaison with other governmental and non-governmental organizations in working towards the development of women;

To encourage local capacity-building with women.

NEEDS

To develop a theoretical framework for the analysis of the root causes, forms, and dimentions of women's subordination and expolitation in developping and developped society;

To promote a critical evaluation of existing development strategies at national and international levels in terms of thier effects upon women and searce for alternative methods, policies, and strategies;

To document and analyze women's organizations and struggles against women's subordination, particulaly in developping countries;

To identfy and overcome any inherent androcentic and eurocentric in existing social science theory;

To improve methodologies for integrating theory and practice in both research and teaching in women's studies.

STRATEGIES

To pursue studies and research into women's problems;

To expand the Center to collect information and endertale documentary work relating to women, especially those in northern thailand;

To disseminate information and reserch findings by various means, such as the provision of training, dissemination of documents and articles, and publicity theough the mass media, exhibitions, and other media;

To create forums for academic exchanges of views between academics and organizations, such as symposia, discussions and lectures;

To develop women's grass-roots programmes.

ACTIVITIES

Traning Courses(1993-1995)

Training for Researchers in Women's Studies

Training project for Paralegals

Workshops(1993-1995)

Political Platforms and Female Politicians

Women and Custom in Northern Thailand

Biodiversity

International Migration and Trafficking in Women

Women and AIDS Prevention

The Area of Affinity Workshop on Women, Family and AIDS Prevention

Women in Politics: Women's Political Skills

Research and Publications(1993-1995)

Antimalarial Drug Distribution and Use Along the North-Western Thai-Burmese Border (1993;1994)

Proceedings of the Area of Affinity Workshop on Women, family and AIDS Prevention(1995)

Daily Newspaper Clippings on HIV/AIDS; Women and AIDS(1995)

Statutory Laws, Customary Laws and Village Practice: A case Study in Changmai, Thailand(in progress)

Health Status of Construction Workers in Northern Thailand ( in progress)

Daily Newspaper Clippings on the Beijing Conference (in Progress)

Dissemination of Publications:

Thai Newsletter

English Newsletter

Occasional Papers

Information and Documentation Center:

Open Monday-Friday 0830-1630 (except holidays)

FACILITIES

WSC Director and Committee Members

Virada Somswasdi

Associate Professor

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Social Science

Shalardchai Ramittanondh

Lecturer

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. Anchalee Singhanetra

Assistant Professor

Department of Geography

Faculty of Social Science

Benjawan Tongsiri

Associate Professor

Faculty of Economics

Suwarat Gypmantasiri

Assistant Professor

Faculty of Economics

Veerawoot Vaddhanayon

Lecturer

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Social Sciences

Paisit Panitchkul

Lecturer

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Social Sciences

For further information about the Women's Studies Center and its activities,

please contact:

Ms. Chittraporn Chotiptmai
Programm Coordinator
Women's Studies Center(WSC)      tel: +66-53-221699 Ext.3572,3593
Faculty of Social Sciences            fax: +66-53-219245
Changmai University
Changmai 50200
THAILAND

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Last Updated 3 August 1996