Daily life and Social Customs in ThonBuri

Since the 1960’s almost all of the villagers in the village of Thon Buri have left their homes to work for some time in the urban areas. Most of them work in unskilled construction or service jobs. An increasing number do work that does require some to high skill. Urban life has also changed the rural society. Government programs brought electricity to a lot of the villages in the 70’s and 80’s.  This along with regular economic growth and incomes made it possible for a lot of the villagers to purchase household items like TVs and other electronics. This has drawn the attention off of the other forms of entertainment they had before the electricity such as regional opera.

Everyone will agree, whether they are from the rural area or the urban area that the quality of life has improved greatly since the late 20^th century. More people live in better housing and have running water, even in the rural areas. There is better healthcare than before and the middle class urban villagers have access to the best facilities and business professionals.

Because of the new social and professional options opened up to the people of Thon Buri, there has been an increase in divorce and then number of females who choose to remain single. Since the economy has expanded and made way for more educational opportunities for both men and women alike, this has made it able for women to become financially independent. Some women have stayed away from marriage for the fear they may contract a STD from their husband, who may have had many sexual partners.  In the 1960’s and 70’s the Thai people used to look to the king and queen’s marriage as a model but since the 1980’s new royal family – that has 3 divorces within 3 of the children and the successful career of Princess Sirindhorn, who has never ever been married – the Thai now look at the royal family as any other normal family.

Despite the changes in social customs, the Thai still engage in the many cultural practices that were started in traditional culture. Even the most modern new businesses are opened only after the owners of the business have consulted an astrologer for an auspicious date in which they can open their business up. Middle class citizens are likely to consult a spirit medium and the rural people are following Buddhism. Most homes in these areas have shrines to the Buddha, if not displays of famous monks in addition to the Buddha.

The life of the Thai has changed significantly since the beginning of the 20^th century. The way of live has improved and the economy has grown very much since then. Even women can live independently and support themselves. Marriage has change and the divorce rate has risen, yet The Buddhism still remains central to the Thai culture. The shows that regardless of all the changes made to the economy and the way of life of the Thai people, religion will never be forgotten or thrown away.