Chris Rowley
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Professor of HRM, Cass Business School, City University, London, UK and Director of Centre for Research in Asian Management and Research and Publications, HEAD Foundation, Singapore
We present case studies of women managers in Thailand from the recently
published book, The Changing Face of Women Managers in Asia (Rowley and
Yukongdi, 2009).
Thailand has experienced intense economic growth over the last decade.
Politically, the government has established plans that focus specifically on
developing women's skills and knowledge, increasing their participation in
decision-making and promoting equality and social protection. This has resulted
in a rise in the number of women occupying executive positions, particularly in
the public sector. Although the Thai constitution guarantees protection against
discrimination on the grounds of gender, law enforcement has been weak and
workplace discrimination persists in employment practices. Women's role in
society continues to be influenced by Buddhist beliefs and cultural norms that
expect men to take the lead role.