“THE CONSTRUCTION OF AGING DISCOURSES IN A THAI CONTEXT: A PRELIMINARY STUDY THROUGH A HISTORICAL LENS”

Abstract

This qualitative research examines how aging discourses have been made by the state by utilizing Foucauldian discourse analysis as the main approach.  It is argued that aging discourses have been socially and contextually constructed through the state’s policies and actions in order to serve specific purposes in each period of time. As such, the constructed aging discourses are dynamic. This research surmises that ageism is not a natural process, but rather a socially constructed process. Therefore, it is revealed that there are four types of aging discourse: 1) the elderly are seen as a valuable asset to the nation in the context of the traditional bureaucratic system, 2) the elderly deserve proper care in the context of national modernization and the nation’s image construction, 3) the elderly are seen as problematic and a burden on the nation in the context of the national economic and social development and global demographic change, and 4) the elderly are thought not to share the younger generation’s desire for equality, democracy and universality as indicated by the ironic expression “Ma-nud Loong Ma-nud Pa”. It can be seen that the four discourses have been purposively used by groups of people who benefit by portraying aging people in such ways in Thai society.