Living Thai-ness: Today's integration of Thai community to Australian multicultural society

Abstract

This paper examines the status of the Thai migrant community in Australia. I argue that Australian multiculturalism creates a space for Thai culture within Australian society. Multiculturalism has meant that Thai communities feel a sense of belonging in Australia. The internal social cohesion and cultural coherence that Thai community networks provide enable participants to become involved in the presentation of Thai-ness in Australia. Thai-ness presented in Australia is seen as variously influenced by the diversity of Thai migrant backgrounds. The awareness of the multiplicity of Thai-ness stimulates the need to negotiate some common cultural ideas and shared imaginations. Thai-ness presented in Australia is not a matter of fixed and stable truth about Thais, Thailand, or Thai culture, but rather a composite of collective imaginings. The individual or community assessment of whether or not actions are acceptable or unacceptable, desirable or undesirable is most likely negotiated in the space that is formed between Thai and Australian social values. This negotiated Thainess has brought significant cultural layers to the fabric of Australian multicultural society.