Social Acceptance of Female Ex- offenders and Social Enterprise: A Case Study of Lila Thai Massage in Chiang Mai

Abstract

This research examines social acceptance of female ex-offenders through the running of social enterprises which places the importance to the promotion of employment for vulnerable people. The objectives are: to examine the ways in which social acceptance among female ex-offenders can be promoted through earning a living; to investigate the approach of social enterprise adopted for promoting social acceptance among female ex-offenders; and to recommend guidelines for success in promoting social acceptance among female ex-offenders using "Lila Thai massage" Co., Ltd. in Chiang Mai, Thailand as a case. This study adopted the qualitative research approach, using in-depth interview with 18 key informants and documentary analysis as means of collecting data. The data was analyzed by content analysis.

The findings showed that the guidelines for creating social acceptance in the occupation of female prisoners was 1) correctional agencies, Thai massage practitioners, and service recipients play major role in promoting the social acceptance, 2) building trust from entrepreneurs and building confidence of exonerated persons can create social acceptance, 3) cooperation with the government, the private sector, and other sectors can provide either budget, equipment, or public relations supports to achieve the social acceptance. The study about the application of social enterprises as a guideline to build an occupational recognition of female ex-offenders found that social enterprises can be a guideline for creating job because they promote employment within groups of people who deserve special promotion. It also can reduce the unemployment rate, such as the Thai massage business in Chiang Mai province where female exonerated people were employed and encouraged to take Thai massage courses for health from schools established by the business. Registered certificate of the health massage service provider gained from the schools can be benefit for further career development of these female offenders.