With one of the highest female labour force participation rates in the region, Thai women
have historically been active participants in the country’s economic activities. However,
their modes of labour participation have undergone significant changes over the past halfcentury,
as economic development has dramatically transformed Thai women’s
livelihood options and their traditional gender roles. Based on research conducted in
Chiang Mai province, this study utilises the framework of livelihood strategies to explore
the ways in which women are choosing to participate in the contemporary Thai economy,
by examining their employment choices, motives and the implications of their livelihood
decisions for themselves and their families. Theories of modernity and identity
construction are also incorporated into the discussion to accentuate women’s agency in
the decision-making process. Through these approaches, it will be shown that Thai
women’s range of employment choices and opportunities to attain greater social and
economic mobility vary according to the extent of their possession of the various forms
of capital. In addition, their livelihood strategies are also influenced by the economic and
social contexts in which they are created and manifested.