The Values toward Males and Females: The Reflections from Thai and Chinese Idioms

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the values toward males and females from Thai and Chineseidioms and 2) compare the values toward males and females in Thai and Chinese societies. It was found that the Thai idioms reflected four values toward males: 1) honor and prestige, 2) family or lover honesty, 3) diligence, knowledge, and ability, and 4) marriage and partner selection. With regard to the Chinese idioms, they reflected six values toward males: 1) marriage and partner selection, 2) paying more attention to males than females, 3) gratitude, 4) honor and prestige, 5) family or lover honesty, and 6) diligence, knowledge, and ability. The Thai idioms reflecting the values toward females included being a virtuous lady, woman’s beauty, marriage and partner selection respectively. The Chinese idioms reflecting three values toward females were the woman’s beauty, marriage and partner selection, and being a virtuous lady. The Thai idioms that could reflect values for both males and females were partner suitability and family honesty. The Chinese idioms that could reflect the values toward males and females were partner suitability and love between a wife and husband or lovers. When comparing the two societies, the study revealed that both societies shared four values toward males. However, Thai society put the most emphasis on honor and prestige while Chinese society paid the most attention to marriage and partner selection. The values only found in Chinese society were paying more attention to males than females and the gratitude importance. Both societies had the same three values toward females. Being a virtuous lady gained the most attention from Thai society while Chinese society paid the main attention to the woman’s beauty. Both societies had the same values toward males and females regarding suitable partner selection. However, both societies had different values: Thai society had family honesty value while Chinese society had love value of couples or lovers.