“เมียฝรั่ง” ในวรรณกรรมไทยหลังวิกฤตเศรษฐกิจ พ.ศ.2540

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the representation of Farangs’ Wives in Thai literature after the economic crisis in 1997. The data were collected from the six relevant novels written by the authors who were Farangs’ Wives: 1. ‘Pantha-anong’  2. ‘Hello: Mia Farang’ 3. ‘Nee Kor… Mia Farang’ (This is Also Mia Farang) 4. ‘Phen Chao Tang Puer Ya’ (Getting Married to Divorce) written by Suwadee 5.‘Nang Pim’ (Mrs. Pim) and 6. ‘Cheoy Phakaa’ written by Srijan Srijaroon Anderson. The findings showed that the presentation of representation of Farangs’ Wives can be divided into two aspects: Farangs’ Wives and discourse of women’s prestige and Farangs’ Wives and the dilemma of virginity. Farangs’ Wives in the Thai novels after the economic crisis portrayed the discourses of outstanding women who were well- educated, prestigious, and independent. As a result, there was not any reason for them to marry foreigners to upgrade their household economy. Moreover, they had to get over the dilemma of virginity since they used to get married before marrying the leading actor of the story. It could also be illustrated that those women had highly sexual desires regardless of any norms of virtuous woman characters.