FIVE DECADES IN PANG MODDAENG AND ISAN WOMEN STRUGGLING FOR REACHING TO DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ISAN SILK DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study investigates the multifaceted impacts of historical and socio-economic shifts on Isan women in Thailand, focusing specifically on their political, economic, and social standing. The research pursues three primary objectives: (1) to analyze how these changes have contributed to the differentiation of Isan women's statuses; (2) to examine the evolution of Isan silk production, distribution, and consumption from 1963 to the present; and (3) to explore the diverse ways in which Isan women, categorized according to the first objective, engage with, negotiate, and influence silk development initiatives. Employing a qualitative approach grounded in ethnographic methodology, the research involved fieldwork in Pang Moddaeng village, Chiang Kham District, Phayao Province. Data were collected through participant observation, surveys, focus group discussions designed to elicit historical context, and in-depth interviews with 24 key informants. These informants were strategically selected to represent diverse perspectives, comprising eight individuals providing insights into local history and the history of silk production at the household level, eight representatives from women's groups, and eight representatives of social actors involved in silk development projects. The findings reveal the following key insights: First, historical and socio-economic changes have indeed stratified Isan women's statuses, leading to three distinct groups: (1) women holding comprehensive roles and statuses across economic, social, and political spheres; (2) women possessing social and economic roles and statuses, but lacking political status; and (3) women marginalized from both political and social spheres, focusing primarily on building economic security within their communities. Second, the production, distribution, and consumption of Isan silk have undergone significant transformations since 1963, influenced by the interventions of government agencies such as the Chiang Kham District Community Development Office, the Agricultural Development Office, and the Ang Thong Subdistrict Administrative Organization. These institutions play a crucial role in shaping not only the operational aspects of silk production but also the prevailing ideologies, values, and attitudes surrounding it. Third, the three groups of Isan women engage with and influence silk development in distinct ways. The first group strategically utilizes silk as a tool to negotiate access to development resources, including budgets and projects, within the broader context of promoting cultural identity narratives, such as local Isan identity, environmental stewardship, and contemporary Isan identity. The second group leverages silk to negotiate and maintain women's agency at the household level, viewing silk as a form of household cultural heritage potentially threatened by state-led initiatives to transform it into a public or community-level asset. Finally, the third group perceives silk as a cultural resource that can be independently and competitively exploited within the market system.