This research note presents the everyday encounters of Karen primary school children with Thai nationalism and gender norms. The case studies highlight the different ways children learn about common themes of gender expectations, poverty and being an ethnic minority in Thailand. Through an ethnographic exploration of the shared experiences of play and of growing up Karen in the Thai national education system, the research note examines the ways in which Karen children grapple with the ethnonational baggage of their identity and their home against the ultimately unattainable goals of Thainess that are imposed on them.
This study explores the intersection of queer identity, societal attitudes and & Dstrok;ao Mau, Vietnam's traditional Mother Goddesses worship. Focusing on queer male mediums in northern Vietnam, it examines their roles, challenges and identity negotiation within and beyond rituals. Through interviews, participant observation and social media analysis, the research highlights generational divides among queer male mediums regarding queerness and gender identities. While & Dstrok;ao Mau offers queer mediums acceptance and community, societal stigmas persist. The findings underscore the importance of representation, and & Dstrok;ao Mau's potential as a platform for advocating queer rights, fostering inclusivity and dismantling systemic discrimination in Vietnam.
This article examines the impact of intersecting social categories, such as indigeneity, religion and gender, on the recovery capacity after a typhoon of a sea-oriented Indigenous community called Sama Badjao. Drawing on data from ten months of fieldwork in the coastal area of Leyte province, the Philippines, this research uses decolonial and intersectional perspectives to highlight the complex challenges faced by Indigenous women in the aftermath of disasters. The findings show that disasters intensify pre-existing patterns of social inequality, disproportionately burdening Sama Badjao women and delaying their recovery. Limited access to aid resources, healthy and traditional food alternatives, and non-traditional housing materials intersect with customary beliefs, constraining recovery while reshaping Indigenous identity and practice. The article further demonstrates how efforts to reconstruct stilt houses reflect both climate adaptation and contested negotiations of indigeneity and gender in post-disaster contexts.
