Motherhood, risk and responsibility: Infant care in Northern Thailand

Abstract

The cultural construction of childrearing and infant care in northern Thai society is discussed on the basis of in-depth interviews with 30 women in Northern Thailand. The results indicate that Thai mothers observe and practise many socially and culturally acceptable tasks to ensure the health and wellbeing of their infants. These beliefs and practices tie them not only with their family and their society at large, but also the supernatural world. Mothers see themselves as responsible parents and hence follow numerous rules to avoid risks which may pose threats to the health and wellbeing of their infants. This attempt is used as a means to prove that they are good and moral mothers.