The Role of Women in Strengthening Community Movements in Trat Province
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The process of strengthening community empowerment in Trat Province is outstanding by the existence of a civil society movement. This movement has demonstrated a strong capacity to drive a wide range of public issues, addressing various local challenges through a comprehensive and integrated approach that effectively engages multiple sectors. The Trat community movement is primarily composed of two key organizations: the “Kon Trat Community Organization” and the “Tambon Community Organization Councils”, operating across 43 sub-districts. These organizations have successfully developed strong working collaborations with provincial and central government agencies operating in the area, local administrative organizations, other state actors, as well as national level civil society networks. A particularly remarkable aspect of this movement is the significant role played by women. Most of leaders, key actors, and staff in both the Kon Trat Community Organization and the Tambon Community Organization Councils are women. These women leaders have earned recognition at both local and national levels due to their obvious achievements in tackling community issues and promoting sustainable community development. A study on the Women’s Roles in the development of the Trat community movement reveals that their leadership practices emphasize participatory engagement of local people. Women leaders often adopt collaborative approaches that encourage joint problem-solving, dialogue, and inclusive decision-making. Their methods involve seeking cooperation, listening with humility, and open-mindedness. Moreover, they actively coordinate with all stakeholders to achieve the target results. These practices reflect a model grounded in deliberative democracy, characterized by inclusive discussion, mutual respect, and consensus-building. Such an approach creates a positive atmosphere for participation, nurtures a culture of dialogue, and embraces diversity. Eventually, it serves as a foundation for resolving community issues and for fostering truly sustainable community empowerment.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Chantavanich, S. (2010). Qualitative research (18th ed.). Chulalongkorn University Press.
Charoenwong, S. (2011). Group organization of popular in Trat province (Master’s thesis). Burapha University.
Chaturapornpracit, C., Apisetkoon, T., & Yumuang, K. (2017). Role of female leaders in local administrative organizations: Laemchabang city municipality, Chonburi, Thailand. Journal of Politics, Administration and Law, 9(3), 581–611.
Community Organizations Development Institute. (2025, July 25). Gathering of 5 good Trat people's way of life. Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://web.codi.or.th/20230725-46923/
Community Organizations Development Institute. (2025, July 28). Exploding the power of “5 good Trat ways” to elevate communities to “self-management.” Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://web.codi.or.th/20250728-63040/
Community Organizations Movement Network of Trat Province. (2024, October 29). Focus group on “Trat Province self-management.” Kon Trat Community Organization Office.
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development. (2023). Situation of Thai women in 2024. Gender Equality Promotion Division, Measures and Mechanisms Group, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://www.dwf.go.th//storage/76897/584ac11a-5f44-4167-a8e8-565fd7c9cd0b-document-5920.pdf
Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development. (2023). Women's development action plan (2023–2027). Gender Equality Promotion Division, Measures and Mechanisms Group, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://www.dwf.go.th//storage/55671/
Duangsa, U. (1994). Qualitative research: Theory and application in education and modern society. National Research Council.
Eagly, A. H., & Carli, L. L. (2007). Through the labyrinth: The truth about how women become leaders. Harvard Business School Press.
Eagly, A. H., & Carli, L. L. (2003). The female leadership advantage: An evaluation of the evidence. The Leadership Quarterly, 14(6), 807–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2003.09.004
Eagly, A. H., Johannesen-Schmidt, M. C., & van Engen, M. L. (2003). Transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles: A meta-analysis comparing women and men. Psychological Bulletin, 129(4), 569–591. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.4.569
Hanpakdeeniyom, A. (2021). The model to drive women’s role toward sustainable community development in the 21st century. Journal of Social Science and Buddhistic Anthropology, 6(4), 355–371.
Kamolsirisakul, H., Piyachan, P., Kulsudjarit, A., & Samukkethum, S. (2021). Lessons learned from the best practice of drug prevention and solution in the city communities by community participation: A case study of Sapanpoon Community, Donmueang, Bangkok. National Research Council of Thailand.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
Lovey, C. (2003). The concept of psychological well-being and its relationship to a sense of belonging among college students (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Maryland.
Nilmaee, K. (2006). Women's organizations in strengthening communities in Bang Saphan Noi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Interdisciplinary Study for Local Development, Faculty of Political Science, Ramkhamhaeng University. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://islocal.ru.ac.th/
Nontapattamadul, K. (2003). Qualitative research in social welfare: Concepts and research. Thammasat University Press.
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Promjaroen, P. (2021). Leadership of women in elementary and primary schools management roles in Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province (Independent study, Master of Public Administration, Faculty of Political Science). Chulalongkorn University.
Rhode, D. L. (2017). Women and leadership. Oxford University Press.
Rupp, D. E. (2006). An abstract: Employee justice perceptions and psychological needs satisfaction: Testing the mediating role of relational identity. Personnel Psychology, 59(3), 695–718. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2006.00045.x
Sakaew, M. (2023). Leadership according to Papanikadhamma of women leaders in Thai local development. Journal of Interdisciplinary Innovation Review, 6(2), A-115–126.
Samukkethum, S. (2011). The establishment of power of the powerless. Machalongkhun CSB Co., Ltd.
Senawong, C. (2022). Women leaders have more effective leadership: Covid-19 crisis. Thailand Productivity Institute. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://www.ftpi.or.th/2022/108009
Singkaneti, B., et al. (2025). Empowering community resilience on the basis of “Thai democratic regime” by social innovation (Report of 2024–2025). National Research Council of Thailand.
Singleton, R. A., & Straits, B. C. (2005). Approaches to social research (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Stamper, C. L., & Masterson, S. S. (2002). Insider or outsider? How employee perceptions of insider status affect their work behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23(8), 875–894. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.175
Scannell, L., & Gifford, R. (2010). Defining place attachment: A tripartite organizing framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2009.09.006
The National Health Commission Office. (2025). Trat residents set a development agenda, joining hands with 9 volunteer organizations to support local governments in caring for child development centers. Retrieved August 21, 2025, from https://www.nationalhealth.or.th/associate/th/106
Trat Province. (2025). Basic information. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.trat.go.th/admin/index.php#
Wiyaboon, S., & Yaemsuksawat, Y. (2023). Women’s leadership towards the management in social economic and political in the new normal era. Journal of Philosophical Vision, 28(1), 38–50.
Yamaqupta, N., & Kaewninprasert, K. (2021). Sense of belonging and organizational citizenship behavior of Trang Province residents. Journal of Accountancy and Management, 13(3), 55–69.
