Jessica Counsell. Violence against women in Shan Migrant communities in Chiang Mai and the role of NGOs in support of Victims. Master's Degree(Social Science). Chiang Mai University Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2017.
Violence against women in Shan Migrant communities in Chiang Mai and the role of NGOs in support of Victims
Abstract:
This study examines the intersecting phenomena of violence against women and migration within the context of Shan migrants living and working in Chiang Mai, Thailand; while also analyzing best practices to addressing violence against women among the NGOs that serve this migrant population. While evidence shows how Shan womens status as migrants makes them more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and violence, the researcher argues that the Shan gender regime (beliefs, attitudes, and practices) impact womens encounters with violence in Chiang Mai along with their identities as migrants. Through semi-structured personal interviews and participant observation, the research shows Shan migrant women conceptually map violence taking place both inside the home and outside in the broader community - with violence inside the home happening under conditions that blame the victim. Violence which happens outside the home according to Shan migrant women is the greatest threat to their safety as women in Chiang Mai. In contrast, NGO workers who are involved with the Shan migrant community view the largest threats of violence inside intimate relationships which stems from, in their opinion, unequal gender power-relations; not necessarily from actions that place the blame on women. These apparent discrepancies of where the greatest threats are to women and causes of violence against women are strongly linked to long-established gender regimes that enshroud the identities of Shan migrant women. The difference in perspective of greatest threats to Shan migrant womens livelihoods show how the NGO workers view violence against women as a human rights issue, not a
private, family matter. Strikingly, there is disagreement among the NGOs themselves as to what causes violence against women in the Shan migrant community. Out of the three NGOs profiled, two claimed gender inequality caused violence against women, while the third NGO said alcohol was the cause. This finding reveals that within the NGO sector, there is evidence of a Shan gender regime which greatly affects NGOs abilities to serve this population. The divergence of opinion between NGO workers directly influences engagement techniques and womens programming. SWAN and MAP Foundation utilize the empowerment approach to addressing violence against women by incorporating Womens Exchange programs a monthly gathering of women in which they get to dictate the issues to be discussed and then guide the NGO workers on the best ways to serve women. Whereas, SYP will provide referrals to SWAN or MAP when situations appear dire, yet their primary response is to not get involved with what they see as not their business. While SYP is primarily an education-based organization, gender-relations among Shan migrants are too important to ignore. Therefore, I argue for SYPs workers to receive more feminist-centered trainings on violence against women so they can begin to look at gender issues in the community with more nuance, and with an activist-based stance