Empowering women through paid care work: a case study in Mae Kampong Village in Thailand

Despite their vital contributions, women in developing societies remain marginalised due to entrenched gender norms that confine them to unpaid domestic care work, limiting their participation in paid employment. This study examines how remunerated affective labour empowers women in Mae Kampong village, Thailand, in terms of financial independence and household decision-making. Using in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and a focus group discussion, this qualitative study finds that financial compensation for care work – traditionally expected of mothers and housewives – enhances women’s socio-economic empowerment. Beyond economic stability, it enables them to exert greater influence in family decisions. However, while paid labour strengthens women’s roles within the household, it does not significantly improve their broader societal status, as they remain excluded from leadership roles like village headman. Thus, the study highlights the need to challenge traditional gender norms and structural barriers, emphasising that genuine empowerment requires both paid labour recognition and systemic change.