Secrets of Cultural Anthropology in Thailand
Dr. Rasmi Shoocongdej a Thai anthropologist and archaeologist who has revolutionized archaeological research in Thailand and Southeast Asia. – ศ.ดร รัศมี ชูทรงเดช RASMI SHOOCONGDEJ
Secrets of Cultural Anthropology in Thailand
Before reviewing anthropology in Thailand, and the particular difficulties anthropologists find when researching and writing about it in Thailand, let’s look at how anthropology is seen worldwide compared with other scientific disciplines.
What Is Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of human behaviour, culture, and society—past and present. It draws on observation, participation, and analysis to understand how people live, think, and interact.
The discipline is typically divided into subfields: cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology.
Unlike fields that rely heavily on controlled experiments or quantitative data, anthropology uses qualitative methods and engages in fieldwork. Researching with real people in their own culture.
Because that work is not subject to scientific rigour and control, findings can be suspect and wrong conclusions drawn.
The best example is that of Margaret Mead and Coming of Age in Samoa.
margaret mead and coming of age in samoa
Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth for Western Civilisation is a thesis written in 1949 years ago by American anthropologist and researcher Margaret Mead. and for which she was given a doctorate.
Her concluding thesis was that culture is the biggest influence on the sexual development of adolescent girls. She based that theory from work carried out by local fieldworkers on the island of Ta’u in American Samoa.
Although Dr Mead became world famous, her work brought about much criticism from other anthropologists.
They who suggested she relied too much on her fieldworkers, who appeared to give her the results that she wanted, that Samoan girls were very different from other adolescents in the world.
On balance, I and many anthropologists believe that Culture CAN have an effect on sexual behaviour but that it’s not the sole explanation for adolescent behaviour.
In the 1980s, Derek Freeman contested many of Mead’s claims, arguing that she was “hoaxed” into believing that Samoan culture had more relaxed sexual norms than in Western culture.
Although hoaxed is not a word that I would have used, I consider it fair to assert that Dr Mead should have questioned her fieldworkers more thoroughly and tested their observations for possible bias.
They were reinforcing her predetermined view that Samoan girls were so very different from other girls. Something an anthropologist should never do.
Discrepancies are seen between what she published and the original data from her fieldworkers.
Some Samoans do not accept Mead’s comments about their culture.
They say specifically that adolescent promiscuity was NOT socially acceptable in their country at that time.
Perception of Anthropology
In many countries, anthropology is respected as a rigorous and insightful discipline. Yet it’s sometimes viewed as less scientific than fields like physics or biology.
This perception stems from its reliance on interpretation, culture shock of fieldworkers, and the challenges of maintaining objectivity while embedded in the communities being studied.
Anthropologists themselves debate the role of advocacy, neutrality, and the ethics of representation—especially when working with marginalised or indigenous groups, such as those in Samoa.
Anthropology in Thailand
Thailand presents unique challenges for anthropologists. The country’s cultural landscape is shaped by Buddhism, monarchy, regional diversity, and historical influences from neighbouring countries.
Yet access to certain communities, institutions, or archives can be restricted.
Political sensitivities, social hierarchies, and the concept of “Face” affect what is shared with researchers and how findings are received.
Foreign anthropologists may face visa limitations, language barriers, and institutional gatekeeping.
Thai anthropologists may navigate pressures to align with national narratives or avoid controversial topics.
The Thai king, Rama 9, King Bhumibol, told his people that they did not need to think, that he would do their thinking for them.
Westerners would likely take that as being overly patronising, treating his subjects as lesser beings.
But the Thai sees it very differently. The Thai sees it as a caring father doing all he can for his children, saving them the trouble of thinking for themselves.
Dr. Rasmi Shoocongdej a Thai anthropologist and archaeologist who has revolutionized archaeological research in Thailand and Southeast Asia. – ศ.ดร รัศมี ชูทรงเดช RASMI SHOOCONGDEJ
Anthropology in the today’s world Woke society
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