COMMENTARY

Women can do well in top positions

Anuraj Manibhandu

The culture minister may or may not be more popular than the prime minister. But the prominence some media outlets gave to this finding, attributed to a pollster, is revealing.

If the intention was to reject the pollster's finding, well and good. If the aim was to emphasise the vast difference in the work of Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon and Gen Surayud Chulanont, it was unnecessary.

But if the purpose was to question the capability of women to take on more demanding work, then some education is in order.

To be fair, however, the culture minister and her two colleagues in the interim government would be partly responsible if the latter line of thinking is the case.

The performances of two of the women ministers over the past six months have lacked brilliance.

The culture minister's attempt to promote Thai national dress, though in keeping with the times, has found few takers and shows how much she is conservative in the perception of her role.

The prime minister's office lady minister has been struggling with media problems, notably the financial straits of a television station seen as being linked to ''old powers''. The deputy commerce minister, since being installed in early February, has hardly been heard, as is the wont of career bureaucrats working under a strong boss.

By comparison, women high up in the civil service have been more remarkable. A front-runner is the outspoken lady who lost her job under the previous government but _ almost with a vengeance _ has shored up prestige under the present administration.

But outspokenness is not always seen as courage and, unlike one of the generals who took part in the Sept 19 coup, she has drawn both bad press and innuendos.

Winning some kudos for empowering local education zones to transfer teachers deemed inappropriate is the head of the basic education office. This came after a teacher lost her cool and used high heels to punish one of her wards.

The good news for people who would like women to enhance their position in public work _ and these do not only include other women _ is the confirmation that the interim government will carry on the tradition of strengthening women's chances in local government.

The Social Welfare and Human Security Ministry late last month said it was sponsoring a training course this month for women thinking of running in the tambon elections. At present, women share only 6.73 percent of the seats in Tambon Administration Organisations across the country.

Few need to be reminded of the extent to which women pull their weight, especially in the family. But to mark the Songkran holidays, a radio show yesterday morning helped to jog memories.

On the show, social scientist Thanes Charoenmuang of Chiang Mai University made the point that listeners only have to think of the som tam vendors working hard on city streets to see how much rural women are sharing with their men the duty of earning _ and the anguish of leaving children at home to be raised by grandparents.

He also referred, with concern, to the annual exodus of people from Bangkok to the provinces during the holidays as indicative of how much of Thai society lives far from home. Compared with the place of women in government, those working beyond it continue to gain in strength.

Commercial banks have a long history of women in top positions, one outstanding achiever now serving in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

The media is also not short of women in positions of strength. A former president of the Journalists Association of Thailand, and chairperson of the Press Council is an NLA member _ but not without a row largely sparked by male journalists opposed to members of the media taking part in a post-coup organisation. Among activists, a baby boomer who won a seat in the senate, that was not installed, stands out as a campaigner against injustices.

Anuraj Manibhandu is News Editor of the Bangkok Post.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Tuesday April 10, 2007