Thai college students challenge traditional sexuality pattern

Khemika Yamarat, Chulalongkorn University

This study base on ethnographic approach, explores college and university students sexual companionship in one province, Thailand. The research focused on social control of sexual behaviour and the meaning and pattern of various types of students sexual union. The study used Foucault’s and Rubin’s feminist ideologies and concepts. The findings confirm that students resist social controls, values, norms and traditional customs. There are many students reported being union and studying simultaneously. This study demonstrates the clash of the new and old sexual values and norms. Furthermore, the rigid social structure and unequal sexual expression or freedom have negative effects on sexual and reproductive health which is expressed through defined gender roles and through power imbalances where violence takes place. Recommendations for social policy need to address how the social structure can be more flexible to accommodate the new discourse supporting students lifestyles which, in turn, would help the live healthier lives.