Introduction: Starting the Research Journey

This chapter introduces the research journey into the lives of single mothers in Thailand, focusing on the discrimination and stigma they face, leading to social exclusion. It highlights the intersectionality of various social categories such as gender, class, ethnicity, geographical origin, religion, and health conditions in the Thai context. Through the narratives of two single mothers, Thanida and Patchaya, the study illustrates the diverse and complex experiences of single motherhood in Thailand. The research employs gender as a social construct and intersectionality as a critical social theory to challenge existing perceptions and emphasize the unique challenges single mothers encounter. The chapter sets the stage for a detailed examination of how intersecting forms of oppression shape the lives of single mothers in Thailand in the following chapters.