The Emotions of 'Red Shirt Women' in Udon Thani Suburb and Their Political Activism during 2005-2020

Abstract

Udon Thani is known as "capital of red shirt people”. This paper examines red shirt women in Udon Thani suburb, emphasizing the emotional dimensions that impel women to participate in political movements. In this study, two women were selected to collect deep data and other red shirt individuals relevant to these women were also considered to understand red shirt people more. In the 1977 decade, women work in cities and in Bangkok, and they have a new emotional "capitalist desire". They can consume modern products. But they still suffer from inequality in social relationships which is the inequality between class, ethnicity, gender and the condition of employees. They are usually inferior to others, causing them to emotionally suffer. Although the experiences of working allow the women to participate in organizations, such as “Village Health Volunteers” (VHV), “Civil Defense Volunteers” (CDV), and Village Committees (VC), making them proud of their uniforms because these were similar to the bureaucratic uniforms. However, their statuses are not equal to government officers and politicians. Therefore, their emotional suffer of the inequality still exists. “Udon Lovers Club Radio” makes them know the inequality in society caused by the relationship in "Prai - Amat" that obstructs the electoral democracy. So, “Udon Lovers Club Radio” spreads the emotion of equality to the public, leading to groups sharing news and emotional suffering to one another. This communication become an “emotional refuge” that nurtures women with strength and courage to be ready to join political movements of "red shirts" to change Thai society towards equality and democracy.