The Transformation of Women’s Roles in Three Generations of Thai-Chinese Families: A Textual Analysis of the Film Lahn Mah

Abstract

Although numerous studies have explored the roles of Thai-Chinese women in social and family contexts, research employing contemporary film as an analytical lens remains limited. This study aims to examine the transformation of women’s roles across three generations of Thai-Chinese families through the film Lahn Mah (2024), focusing on the female characters Ama, A-Siew, and A-Mui. A qualitative methodology was adopted, employing textual analysis and the theoretical framework of assimilation. The findings reveal that under the patriarchal social structure, women’s roles evolved distinctly across generations: Ama represents the traditional generation confined to domesticity and excluded from inheritance; A-Siew embodies the transitional stage in which women began accessing education and employment yet remained constrained by patriarchal values; and A-Mui illustrates the modern generation characterized by professional independence, access to inheritance, and greater life autonomy. These transformations are shaped by five key factors: family, language and culture, economy and politics, education, and modern ideologies. The study highlights that film serves not only as entertainment but also as a medium reflecting social dynamic and the assimilation processes of the Thai-Chinese community in contemporary society. This contributes to a deeper understanding of gender and cultural studies in Thailand’s multicultural context.