Feminine qualities as a strength of women at work

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they had decided to attend pondok, they expressed their faith in Islam and said that they wanted to use their knowledge in Islam in teaching people and improve their communities (Episodes 84-85). Searching for religious knowledge is a fundamental duty of all Muslims (Baka, 1997), and those who are properly educated can teach others (Maddem, 2011).

Religious education here is therefore a tool that gives well-educated Muslims the privilege to teach and carry on the Malay Muslim culture to younger generations.

In summary, VWSF shows advantages of education, both secular – formal and informal – and religious. Religious education was a means to preserve Malay Muslim culture and an aid in class mobility within the religious community. Secular education, on the other hand, was viewed as an aid in poverty elevation and class mobility in the society. It helped one gain acceptance from the community and the (Thai) society and was also a tool in women’s empowerment which will be further discussed in section 4.4.

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farmer’s rice field (Episode 77). Some were volunteer workers. Some worked at home while some worked outside. Narratives about women’s careers show that women are very active in the economic sphere. The women’s “nature” of being enduring (Episode 10 and 113) and precise (Episode 77) are mentioned as what had enabled women to work hard and do well in their jobs.

Excerpt 21

Guest speaker: Dear listeners, we can see that women in Baan Tanyong-luloh are hard-working. They help each other. They help their husbands in fishery and make use of their free time [doing other jobs].

(Episode 8: Many Careers of Baan Tanyong-luloh Women) Excerpt 22

Host: […] One thing that is very pronounced is the capabilities of women.

They work very hard. They work several jobs at the same time; they work in salt fields and make tamarind candies. Even though the pay is low, but they get paid every day. [Women are capable]. They are hard-working and very tolerant. They are aware that they have to support their children. Some work instead of their husbands who lost their jobs. Women’s consciousness in being a family caretaker is very high. This is their potentials […]

(Episode 113: Baan Tanyong-luloh Analysis. Effects and Overcoming. Part 2) Excerpt 22 mentioned the women’s motherly consciousness as what made women endure hard works, which is appreciated by the hosts. The motherly consciousness was also

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what had helped women deal with emotional struggles in the aftermaths of the South Thailand Insurgency. Baan Jaroh’s guest speaker (See excerpt 8) is an example of a woman who, out of the need to save her son, stepped up to work with various organizations that resulted her in being named a human’s right activist.

Research found that as of 2014, 2,800 women were left widowed as a result of the South Thailand Insurgency. Loss of fathers and husbands has forced women to lead a family and, for some, become a negotiator between locals and the state in place of men (Pluemjai

& Sungkharat, 2015). The emergence of women in public space brought doubts among the public. The program, through the dialogues between the host and the guest speaker, addresses the question of whether women are eligible to take such “unwomanly” roles. The question is answered by the guest speakers pointing out how being women is of their advantage.

Excerpt 23

Host: Do you think being a woman is an advantage or a disadvantage when it comes to working [outside] and gaining [the public’s] approval?

Guest speaker: It used to be a weakness in the past. Now I think it’s our strength because we are tolerant and responsible. We take care of our families and financial matters. Women are precise.

Host: [Acknowledging] Women are precise.

Guest speaker: We are very precise, so men allowed us to handle the money.

Usually, men [take care of the money], right? But now it’s no longer men.

They trust us because we are thrifty and discreet.

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Host: And honest.

Guest speaker: Yes, transparency. They can check what we are doing with the money.

Host: You also said being a woman used to be a disadvantage. How?

Guest speaker: We didn’t have a chance to come out in public – to study and train in various things. It was the belief that women should stay home. If we come out, no one would think we’re worthy of anything. […]

Host: What did you do to get the village’s – especially men’s – approval?

Guest speaker: First of all, we do it for real. We don’t just talk. […] We help everyone; kids, elders…everyone in the village. Men can’t do this even though they have power. Sub-district chief, community chief, local administrators…they have power but they don’t understand women’s issues […]

Host: […] Have you ever had any problems so difficult that they made you cry? How did you deal with it?

Guest speaker: Yes, I have. For example, the criticism from others – from men. They said, “These are not housewives. These are mad housewives.” We, as women, when we heard it, were very sad […]

Host: Why did they say you were mad housewives?

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Guest speaker: We went to trainings. We couldn’t be with our families. We attended trainings day or two at a time and the village didn’t know what we went for. […] We think of those who blame us as our teachers.

Host: And now they understand?

Guest speaker: Yes, they do now.

(Episode 30: Strengths of Women in Development Missions) In addition, the guest speaker pointed out that projects initiated and led by women had inspired more women to participate because she believed that women understand women’s problems best and can work together to achieve a solution (Episode 18). This agrees with Tantiwiramanond and Pandey’s (1991) findings that when stick together as a group, women are able to gain strength of sisterhood and can appeal to more women alike.

To summarize, VWSF portrays stories about women who take up various roles from mothers, labor force, to community workers. It shows how women overcame obstacles and succeeded in doing their duties “the women’s way” by pointing out strengths of feminine qualities as concluded by the host;

Excerpt 24

Host: We also found that femininity – a gender that is endurance, hard-working, possess the conscious to take care of and protect a family, and able to work well under pressure and hardship – is a significant factor that has help women and the communities overcome career struggles and the aftermaths of

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violent incidents. […] Some women also said that kindness and benevolence in all women are positive factors contribution to peace.

(Episode 124: Lessons from the Field Researches and Producing a Radio Program)