The image depicts women in local literature in the south from the traditional period to the era of the National Economic Development Plan​

The image depicts women in local literature in the south from the traditional period to the era of the National Economic Development Plan
The Thai Humanities Research Forum National Academic Conference 13th
New Regionalism and Localism in the Borderless World
 
Abstract
This study is a preliminary data of research study regarding the representation of women in
southern local literature. The study employs documentary survey of articles, dissertations, and books. The findings of the survey are then analysed according to the development of the literature in each period in order to demonstrate how women are represented. This representation is also employed as an approach to conduct this study.
In the early period of southern inscription, local literature existed in the form of legend.
Besides, there were historical inscription sources recording the story of southern women in stone inscription and chronicle. These stories were related to Buddhism and community settlement including power relationship between the center of the kingdom and its periphery. The representation of women which appeared in local legend was displayed differently from the chronicles written by the central state. The stone inscription gave the image of the diversity of people from different places moving to live in the south as well as the story of local women related to religion and interaction through being married to newcomers.
During the annexation of the Kingdom of Siam, the representation of women reflected the
central kingdom exercising power over the periphery. In the Ayutthaya period, there was not only a combination of local legends, Buddhism and the monarchy of the central kingdom, but there was also a chronicle that introduced aristocratic women who helped to expand the power and relationship between the south and the central kingdom by means of marriage and kinship. In addition, there was the southern local literature influenced by the literature created within the reign of King Rama IV and V, e.g. proverbs and local melodrama.
After Siam revolution 1932 until National Economic and Social Development plan, the
representation of women who previously shared characteristic with those in the central region has considerably changed to women in locally social context. At the same time, local southern writers characterize women as confident, trendy and good at both domestic and social affairs as well.
Keywords: Representation, Southern Thai women, and Local literature.
 
 
Author: Taweeluck Pollachom (p 357)