Matt Owens Rees

Difficulties facing anthropologists.

Writing about Thai culture and lifestyle presents a host of challenges for anthropologists working in Thailand. There are legal and cultural barriers to overcome during the research stage. Thais can be shy and unresponsive when you’re asking about their culture. I’ve found many think you’re criticising it, not realising you’re only trying to understand it.

When I first asked a Thai friend the correct way to wai, he changed the subject. I wasn’t criticising—just curious. I understood cultural norms vary throughout the world. I wanted to be respectful to Thai culture. But that moment proved a recurring challenge in writing about Thai anthropology: the Thai inability to engage in constructive conversation.

Although he probably wanted to explain the proper way to wai, he was afraid to do so openly. He feared that the establishment would not approve of his answer, that they would prefer him not to respond at all. This fear is very real It wouldn’t happen in the West.

I examine these challenges to fieldwork, and how I and some notable anthropologists, both in Thailand and Samoa, deal with them. In dispelling some of the myths of anthropology, I give examples of how writers get round the Thai reluctance to cooperate while still achieving readability.



Table of Contents

What is Anthropology
Margaret Mead and Coming of Age in Samoa
How Others See Anthropology
Anthropology in Thailand
Dr Rasmi Shoocongdej’s Views on Thai Anthropology
The Matt Owens Rees Profile
Difficulties Facing Anthropologists. The Medium Writing Platform
Collaboration with Carol Hollinger
Get in touch with Matt Owens Rees
This Beer Tastes Like Rain

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. It means researching with real people, in their own cultural context.

Because this work isn’t governed by laboratory controls or replicable experiments, its findings can be contested—and sometimes flawed.

The best example is that of Margaret Mead and Coming of Age in Samoa.

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 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.

While Dr Mead gained global recognition, her conclusions drew criticism from several eminent anthropologists.

They 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.

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 teenage 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 that Dr Mead should have questioned her fieldworkers more thoroughly and tested their observations for possible bias.

Anthropologists should neither make assumptions nor have predetermined views before beginning their research. Discrepancies also emerged between her published conclusions and the original field data.

Samoans simply didn’t accept Mead’s comments about their culture, voicing their opinion that adolescent promiscuity was NOT prevalent or acceptable in Samoa.

How Others See 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.

King Bhumibol (Rama IX) once told his people they need not worry about thinking—he would do it for them.

To Western ears, this may sound patronising. But to many Thais, it reflected a benevolent paternalism: a monarch acting as a protective father figure, sparing his people the burden of difficult decisions.




Dr Rasmi Shoocongdej’s Views on Thai Anthropology

Dr Rasmi Shoocongdej, born in 1983, grew up in Bangkok and decided to become an anthropologist after learning of the 6 October 1976 massacre of students at Thammasat University. Her research, teaching, and writing have given us a better understanding of Thai social culture.

Professor Rasmi’s goal is that by being informed and appreciative of her work in the field of anthropology will ultimately improve the lives of all Thais.

The link below, a 1300 word piece, is well worth reading. I follow it with a short summary of her achievements 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

In 1996, she carried out research into the history of hunter-gatherer research within Thailand.

Dr Rasmi applied ideas from Optimal Foraging Theory to examine aspects of seasonality, mobility and subsistence over approximately 20,000 years of human occupation.

And emphasised aspects of ‘Hoabinhian’ archaeology – the stone tool techno-complex common throughout late Pleistocene and Holoceneaged sites in Thailand and greater mainland Southeast Asia – by identifying and understanding the environmental context and the multifaceted role and agency of the hunter-gatherers who used these tools.

Her excavations at Tham Lod and Ban Rai Rockshelters yielded valuable insights into hunter-gatherer activities in northwest Thailand in the Pleistocene era, more commonly known as the Ice Age.

One of Dr. Rasmi’s less well known impacts on archaeology is her commitment to working with local communities and engaging the public in her research and work. She has worked with local communities in highland Pang Mapha to protect archaeological sites and raise the sense of belonging among communities.

Through exhibitions and tours, her approach engages local community members and leaders, encouraging them to understand the potential impacts and consequences of her work. Her recent research re-constructed the facial appearance of a late Pleistocene woman from Tham Lod Rockshelter.






The Matt Owens Rees Profile

As a cultural anthropologist who has lived in Thailand for nearly two decades, my aim is to write about Thailand’s culture, and the lifestyle of its people, in an easy-to read format. Often with humour—and often drawing comparisons with Western cultures.

As Google wrote in their meta description of the Matt Owens Rees Profile, Matt’s posts are “engaging storytelling”.

You can read my work on https://www.MattOwensRees.com Short true stories on Thai life with a 2 minute read and 2,000 word in depth articles. Both are mobile friendly.



My writing draws on personal research, lived experience, and conversations with Thais from all walks of life, and from comments I get when listening to expats and tourists who live in a county called The Land of Smiles.

But, to understand Thailand—and to connect meaningfully with Thai people—it’s better to observe and listen than to dominate the conversation.

After all, we were given two eyes and two ears, but only one mouth.

I’ve built a “focus group” of Thai contacts from all walks of life: farmers, construction workers, office staff, shopkeepers, those working in the professions, business owners, military and police officers.

Bar girls and Bankers; Freemason members and Freelancer girls.

I don’t judge or discriminate. I just write the truth about what I hear and see.

Difficulties Facing Anthropologists. The Medium Writing Platform

This platform has changed a lot recently. Many writers have left because of the movement towards censorship and not allowing free speech.

Therefore, I will no longer write on that platform.

Collaboration with Carol Hollinger

Although our styles differ, my books and writing echo many of the observations found in Mai Pen Rai Means Never Mind—still, in my view, the best introduction to Thai society ever written. It’s as relevant today as it was in 1965 when she wrote it.

Carol died at just 45, before seeing her best-selling book in print. I also lost the chance to collaborate with her on a new book exploring the concept of Face in Thai society. A subject we were both keen to explore together.



Get in Touch with MattOwensRees

I always reply to readers’ messages.

If you’ve read one of my titles—or even just this post—I’d love to hear what you think. If they resonate or prove useful, I’d welcome your thoughts in the comments. This helps shape future writing and other readers like to see your comments and views.

📧 Email: MattOwensRees@proton.me
🐦 Twitter: @MattOwensRees
📘 Facebook: (Chiangmai): Matt Owens Rees

Where to Preview or Buy My Books
📚 https://Books2Read.com/MattOwensRees
🌐 https://www.MattOwensRees.com – my author website.

Some books are free introductory offers on my website.



I try to bring humour into meaningful and informative content. Often comparing Thai culture and lifestyle with the cultures of other nations.

Here’s an example.

This Beer Tastes Like Rain

To make cultural points in the “Beyond the Bamboo Curtain” series, and to make the story more interesting for readers, I often give examples of true stories from other cultures.


Different nationalities have different senses of humour. I recall being in a UK pub one overcast day in winter. A few of us were sitting round the bar when the barman commented, looks like rain, doesn’t it?

The fellow next to me raised his glass and sipped his beer. Yes, tastes like it too

We all laughed including our barman. A sarcastic joke like that, suggesting he’d been watering down the beer, would not have worked in Thailand. A blank look, walking away, or a more violent response could well have followed.

Thais prefer you to join in with their own brand of humour.

They will love it if you join in with their karaoke, whatever kind of voice you have. Life is about having fun, sanuk.

When I dance, I show the world that I was born with two left feet. It matters not a jot to a Thai.

Trying to dance the Thai ramwong, their traditional dance with a lot of symbolic hand and body movement, guarantees much laughter and smiles.

That’s the sort of joking and fun they enjoy. Here is a professional version.

https://www.tiktok.com/@thosepubguys/video/7486875771248594198?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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