For 37-year old Pern Khamwean, the word “feminist” wasn’t on her radar until her 39-year old sister used it in conversation.
“My mum had started going out with her friends and travelling more, just like my dad did when we were younger. But actually, my dad doesn’t like that my mum does this. My sister said feminism means women can do whatever men can,” says Pern, a photographer based in Chiang Mai.
For advocates of women’s rights in Thailand, feminism means believing that men and women are equal and deserving of equal opportunity and access—regardless of gender. However, this definition is widely open to interpretation with even activists having various stances on it.
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