A survey of gender equality at
Thammasat University, Thailand

Cattleya Petchsingh
Mie University 28 Sep 07

A survey of gender equality at
Thammasat University, Thailand
Thammasat University
Facts about Thailand
Data collection
A survey and some case studies

Thammasat University• 2nd oldest university in Thailand• Inaugurated in 1934 asuniversity of moral science andpolitics giving education for all• ‘I love Thammasat because
Thammasat teaches me to love
the people’• Viewed as a ‘liberal’ institution• Used frequently as a platform
for political and academic
exchanges
Gender equality at TUTUThammasat University
21 faculties• Law• Nursing• Commerce and Accountancy• Dentistry• Political science• Medicine• Economics• Technical medicine• Social Work• Health Science• Journalism• Sociology and Anthropology• Science and Technology• Management school• Engineering• Architecture• Sirindhorn International
Institute of Technology• Fine Art• Liberal Arts
• Thai studies

Gender equality at TU

TU

Thammasat University
4 campuses

Thammasat Phrachan
Thammasat Rangsit
Thammasat Lanna (Lampang)
Tavorn-Usa Pornprapa (Pattaya)
Gender equality at TU

TU

Thailand• Democratic kingdom
since 1932
• Independent state –never been colonised• ~ 60 M population• ~ 80% Buddhists• Official language Thai

Gender equality at TU

TU

Thai custom relating to gender• Many female warriors in the Thai history• Seniority wins over gender• Preference for daughters• Individuals are known by their given names• Equal shares of parental properties• Youngest daughter and husband live with thewoman’s parents• Bride price is offered in marriage

Gender equality at TU

TU

Thailand – some statistics
Population
1995

Life expectancy

Source: ministry of Interior

Gender equality at TUTU

Thailand – some statistics
Undergraduates 1994 dataSource: ministry of higher education

Gender equality at TU

TU

Time line:
gender equality in Thailand
1932
1949
1965
1974
1976
1979
1988
1992
1994
1995
1996
1997
2000

1st constitution stated women and men have equal right to voteFirst elected female MP
First female judge
New constitution stated women and men have equal rightFirst female minister by nomination
National strategic plan for women development
First female minister by election
Year of Thai women – occupation equality for women and men
First female state governor
New constitution stated equality of women and men in education
politics and public activities
First female police Inspectors
First female military Generals
New constitution stated punishment for gender double standard
MA courses on women studies offered at Chiangmai and TU

Gender equality at TU

TU

Gender equality at TU?
• Different behaviours, aspirations of women &men are considered and valued equally• Rights, opportunities and responsibilities do notdepend on gender• Choices are made without limitations set bystereotypes, rigid gender roles and bias
Î Compare the choice of education, qualification,
type of jobs, progress in career, and role in thecommunity
Gender equality at TU

TU

Data collection and analysis• Data source from university’s office of registrar
and personnel department• Also those available on the Internet• No past data available• Personnel department keeps records by positions• Analysis uses comparison through proportion ofmales and females though total numbers may differ

Gender equality at TU

TU

2007 student intake % female

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Law

Accountancy

Humanities

Gender equality at TU

SocialSciences

Science &Agriculture

Engineering

Medical andDentalSciences

TU
TOTAL

2007 student intake
4433

M6975

F0%

Law

Accountancy

20%

Humanities

40%

Social Sciences

Gender equality at TU

60%

Science & Agriculture

80%

Engineering

100%

Medical and Dental Sciences

TU

Student intake % female by faculty/year
90
80
70
60
50
4030
20
102000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Law

Accountancy

Humanities

Social Sciences

Science & Agriculture

Architecture

Engineering

Medical and Dental Sciences

Average

Gender equality at TU

2007TU

Summary: students• Many more female students than male students
and number is increasing every year
•Law and engineering are most popular among malestudents• Humanity and social science are most popularamong female students• Humanity is least popular among male
• Engineering is least popular among female• In Humanity, 8 in 10 are female• In Engineering, 4 in 10 are female• Proportion of female engineering students isincreasing each year
Gender equality at TU

TU

Current employee % female

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
academics

administration

technical
supportGender equality at TU

planning

publicrelations

librarians

nursesengineers

TUEmployees' Higher Education (Female:2559; Male:1115)
NoneBachelors

Masters

PhD

M

F

0%10%20%30%

Gender equality at TU

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

TU
90%

100%

Summary: employees• Many more female employees than males’• Males dominate in engineers• Females dominate in librarians and nurses• Ratio of females and males for academic staff
is 6 to 4 (closer to 1 than the rest)• Large portion of female employees has
Bachelor degree, smaller portion has higher
degrees (compared to the male community)

Gender equality at TU

TU

Academic Staff % female
100%

80%60%40%20%0%
Law

Accountancy Humanities

Gender equality at TU

SocialSciences

Science &Agriculture

Engineering Medical andDental
SciencesTotal

TU

Academic staff by grade % female
100%28309

343520Prof

Assoc Prof

Asst Prof

Lecturer

90%
80%70%60%
50%
40%30%20%10%0%

Gender equality at TU

TU

Academic staff grade by gender
Prof

Assoc Prof

Asst Prof

Lecturer
544

M646

F

Gender equality at TU

TU

Summary: academic staff• Lowest proportion between female and maleacademic staff is in engineering• Highest proportion is in medical science• Many more male professors than females

Î More males in higher position/rank ?

Gender equality at TU

TU

Thammasat University Executive bodies % female
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Governing body

Gender equality at TU

University council

TU• Many more male executives than females• University executives male:female = 7:3• Rector is male
• Faculty of Engineering executives
male:female = 6:4
Î What about other universities ?

Gender equality at TUTU

Engineering faculty governing bodies at Thai universities % female
100%

80%

60%

40%20%0%
Chula

Kasetsart

Chiangmai

Gender equality at TU

Kornkaen

Narasaun

Ladkrabang

Mahidol

SongklaThammasat

TUSummary: executives• Lower female proportion in executive positions• 3 in 10 university executives are female• In a male dominate community such as in theEngineering Faculty, TU shows 40% female
executives – high compared to other universitiesÎThammasat is run by (more) women for(more) women but is led by (more) men
Are men more suited to executive jobs?
Gender equality at TU

TU

Case studies of female executives

Vice rector for Rangsit campus

Gender equality at TU

Dean of Engineering

TU

Vice-rector for Rangsit campus
Assoc Prof Dr Siriporn Kampalikit• 55 yrs old, married with 2 sons• trained as a nurse• PhD training in USA• got in executive by chance• been in executive jobs for 22 yrs• works 7 days a week, >1o hrs a day• likes challenges, dislikes repetitions• hard-working and forceful personality• believes in own capability and equality

Gender equality at TUTU

Dean of Engineering Faculty
Assoc Prof Dr Uruya Veesakul• 44 yrs old, married with no children
excellent support from partner• trained as a civil engineer• PhD training in France• got in executive by chance• been in executive jobs for 1o yrs• works 5 days a week, >1o hrs a day• likes authority, dislikes repetitions• active, friendly and inviting personality• believes being a woman helps with herstyle of management
Gender equality at TU

TU

Are women fit for executives?
• Devotion /determination• Personality• Commitment to family• Social activities/culture

9988998999998888Must women change ?
• Harder work
• Mixed-in male style

Limitation ?

• Discrimination from others• Ceiling in academic/executive job
Gender equality at TUTU

Conclusions• Majority of students and staff at TU are female• Majority of executives are male
• There are strongly male dominant faculty/job
and strongly female dominant faculty/job• Few women work in high status jobs
• Women have to work harder than men to earn
the same status• Women with strong personality (male quality)
can enter the male dominant community

Gender equality at TU

TU

Acknowledgement• Prof. Toyoda, President of Mie University forinvitation• Prof. Goto and Prof. Hanami for visit
arrangement• Prof. Ogawa for invitation and financial
support• Assoc. Prof. Somchai Chakatrakarn, Directorof IEAS, TU for visit arrangement• Ms. Rungtip, Ms. Sirinya and Mr. Nakarin
for data collection
Gender equality at TU

TU