The Thai Vernacular Press and the Woman Politician: Stereotypical Reporting and Innovative Response

Abstract

Thai women who want to participate in politics find that one of the obstacles they face is the representation created by mass media, especially vernacular newspapers. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the conflict in the representation of a woman politician in Thailand. The study focuses on news reports relating to Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, currently the Minister of Agriculture and Agriculture Cooperatives of Thailand. The news reports from the two largest-circulated local newspapers in Thailand were analyzed to highlight the representation created for Sudarat, and her response strategy. The analysis showed the representational dilemma Sudarat faced to which she creatively responded yet found herself on the losing side.