Women’s Empowerment in Political Roles: Self-Structure-Situation (3S)
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Abstract
Despite the educational advancements and high potential of Thai women, their political participation at the national level remains below 20 percent. This article introduces the "Three Powers for Sustainability (3S)" framework, aimed at empowering women and promoting sustainable political engagement. The 3S framework consists of three components: 1) Self - developing women's confidence, motivation, and leadership skills; 2) Structure - reforming political party policies, electoral laws, and systems to promote equality; and 3) Situation - leveraging opportunities from social movements, media influence, and various circumstances. The main challenges facing Thai women include structural constraints, a male-dominated political culture, and complex political contexts. To address these issues, it is essential to understand and integrate all three dimensions, ultimately creating sustainable gender balance in politics that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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