Pre-conference workshop, Asian Studies Association of Australia biennial conference

Much of the history of suffrage has assumed women’s enfranchisement began in the west.  Although much attention has largely focused on the American and British struggles of the early twentieth century, a newer generation of interdisciplinary scholars is exploring a more international timeline.  In fact, women first began voting in New Zealand in 1893 and in Australia in 1902.  Thailand presents another fascinating case because it can be documented that women were voting in local elections at least as early as 1897.  Furthermore, unlike in New Zealand and Australia where female suffrage was controversial, Thailand can lay claim to being the first country in the world where women gained suffrage at the same time as men and without any debate.  Nonetheless, although Thai women are active in various ways in Thai politics, they are not well represented in elected offices.  Drawing on the case of Thailand, this workshop will invite a discussion of the varying political roles of women, considering the possible relevance of varying degrees of matrilineality and other factors shaping their political involvement across Asia.

Workshop proudly sponsored by the ANU Southeast Asia Institute.

For more information visit the workshops and associated events webpage.