Myth Construction of the Motherhood of “Deveined Mother” and “Parenting like Mother” in Thai Television Dramas

Abstract

This research is a qualitative research. The purposes are 1) to study, analyze, and compare motherhood in television dramas and the myth of motherhood in Thai society, and 2) to study and analyze the role of parenthood in television dramas. The data was collected through the analysis of television plays, which aired after the evening news during 2012-2015 on channels 3, 5, and 7. The stories are about motherhood deviating from the customary, consisted of 8 stories and 10 mother characters.

The results evaluated that myth construction of the motherhood of television dramas that attributed to the myth of Thai society was “mother”, who was the originator or moderator. It acted to point out that being ineligible mother can cause effect on motherhood, both parental denial and parenting effect diverges from the expected society, and to impose that women should be ready or prepared for motherhood, both mental, characteristics, economic, education, and professional status.

Nevertheless, the counterintuitive myth was to reject motherhood. Myth pointed out that motherhood will cause the opportunity to play a better role in society. Although, myth imposed that rejecting being mother even gave her a better chance in society than a motherhood role, the mother will be punished by having an unhappy life. However, when mother accepted and acted mother role, she will receive the award of social acceptance.

Nevertheless, the stimulating myth is that mother has the power to define a child-raising pattern. Myth pointed out that mother gave birth to child; the child is the property of the mother, therefore, the mother has the power to raise child without the social expectations. Additionally, myth imposed that mother who nursed the child deviated from a determined and expected society, the mother will be punished.

Conclusion, even though myth construction of the motherhood in Thai television dramas came from a variety of perspectives, the television dramas still maintain the role of motherhood as the society expects.