Factors in decision-making among Japanese elder men in cross-cultural marriage with Thai women: A case study in Chiang Rai province

Abstract

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate factors in decision-making among Japanese elder men in cross-cultural marriage with Thai women; and 2) to understand how Japanese elder men develop stereotypes about Thai women which become a main factor in decision-making in marriage. This case study was carried out with the sampling of 15 cross-cultural marriage couples in Chiang Rai Province.

The factors affecting decision-making among the Japanese elder men in cross-cultural marriage with Thai women were seen from both sides. First, on the side of Japanese elder men, this study found five main factors of social, economic and family structure; and secondly, on the Thai women’s side, four factors of economic and Thai family structure supported Japanese elder men’s decision in marriage. Consequently, this study finds that all these factors affected to create the stereotype of “Thai Women”, which constructs an ideal Thai women as “Good Wife, Good Mother” for the Japanese elder men. All these factors detected in both sides were significant in realizing cross-cultural marriage.