Women's Struggle and Politics over Land and Development in a Slum Community in Chiang Mai

Abstract

"This paper attempts to focus on the land rights struggle and community development of a slum community in Chiang Mai as a case showing how residents, in particular, women play important roles in these activities. Involvement in the politics and social movement is a process that women empower themselves and find a space for themselves in a city. A strong initiative of a women's group also contributed the community development project such as road construction and credit group establishment.

"The research was conducted during November 2000 to January 2001 in a slum community in Chiang Mai. I call name of the community as 'train station community' in this paper. The train station community is located behind the Chiang Mai train station and a just one of the 38 more slum communities in Chiang Mai."