MASCULINITY IN THE LITERATURE OF THE SONGKHLA LAKE BASIN (1948 - 1963 A.D.)

Abstract

This research article aims to examine the construction of masculinity in literary works from the Songkhla Lake Basin during the period 1948 - 1963. The analysis focuses on three principal dimensions: 1) State ideology promoting nationalist masculinity; 2) Local ideologies and values shaping male roles; and 3) The authors’ perspectives reflected through male characters. This study employs a qualitative interpretive documentary approach, examining ten Southern Thai “small booklet” novels published in Songkhla, Phatthalung, and Nakhon Si Thammarat between 1948 and 1963. The analytical framework draws upon the concepts of hegemonic masculinity and discourse theory to explain the power relations embedded in the texts. The findings indicate that representations of masculinity can be classified into three major types. First, masculinity aligned with state ideology, including soldiers, civil servants, and community developers, portraying men as key agents of nation-building. Second, locally constructed masculinity emphasizing bravery, toughness, honor, monogamous loyalty, and sacrifice for family and community. Third, masculinity shaped by the authors’ viewpoints, often presenting idealized male figures characterized by dignified appearance, leadership, and moral integrity. The study demonstrates that masculinity in the literature of the Songkhla Lake Basin is not merely a reflection of social reality but a discursive construction emerging from negotiation among state ideology, local cultural values, and the authors’ roles as meaning producers. Literature thus functions as a discursive space that reproduces and legitimizes hegemonic masculinity within the context of post-World War II Southern Thailand. Academically, this research expands local literary studies toward systematic analyses of gender and power, contributing to a deeper understanding of Thai male identity within its specific regional and historical context.