Mia Farang on YouTube: (Re)defining Thai Womanhood in the Network Society
Porranee Singpliam
Porranee.S@chula.ac.th
Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Treepon Kirdnark
Treepon.K@chula.ac.th
Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Keywords
mia farang; womanhood; the network society; the space of flows; YouTube
Abstract

This paper examines the notion of mia farang amid the covid-19 pandemic. An analysis of mia farang YouTubers during this time reveals essential characteristics of the gendered and sexualized trope. lens on the globalization process, we postulate that women’s voices during the peak of covid-19 became more political, namely with regard to their quality of life compared to that in Thailand. Further, we argue that our textual analysis on three mia farang YouTubers (Yai Nee, Yai Nang, and Yai Chompoo) shows how the space of flows is a possible site for political criticism and negotiation towards their sexualized, gendered, and ethnic selves. Next, we argue that stereotypical elements of mia farang become much more complex by both challenging and reifying the tropes. Lastly, we emphasize notion of the space of flows still dominated by structure of the capitalist society as endorsed by the economy of YouTube.

DOI
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