WOMEN’S STITUATIONS IN THAI AND TAY’S FOLK SONGS

Abstract

Thai people and Tay people are patriarchal ones. This is reflected in their folk songs. In the folk songs, women are depicted as men’s dependents. Yet, Thai folk songs also have many records of the freedom of love and the loving, open attitude of the husband, the husband's family towards the woman. The Tay people do not spend much liberty and democracy for women  like  Thais, but  the  Tay  folk lovers have voiced their dissatisfaction with polygamy, prohibiting them to defend their right to happiness of women. Folk songs of the two peoples have different ways to defend women, but they express humanity in the context of male-headed  society.