A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2019

Thai urban youths are consumers of Thai reality singing competition which is a platform for gender representation in Thailand. Thailand is a gender conservative country despite popular tourist imagery of gender equality. This gender representation is then reflected on to entertainment media like the Thai reality singing competition which reproduce the gender stereotypes in the form of entertainment. This subtle transmission and depiction of prejudicial stereotypes is known as microaggression. This research was conducted to investigate what kind of microaggression are depicted in Thai reality singing competitions and how the Thai urban youth responds to it. Through the process of media analysis Thai reality singing competitions, IDI and FGD sessions male and female Thai urban youth as well as KII who are industry experts. The research has founded that Thai reality singing competitions perpetuates heteronormativity, patriarchal gender stereotypes, and toxic masculinity. The Thai urban youth who hold patriarchal gender norms themselves mostly responded positively to the gender microaggressions. Although there is a trend where male respondent more patriarchal behavior with expression and acceptance of explicit and aggressive gender prejudice while women respondent is more subtle and ambiguous in their expression and reception of the gender micro aggressions.