FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FEMALE POLITICIANS BY THE PEOPLE OF ANG THONG TOWN MUNICIPALITY, MUEANG ANG THONG DISTRICT, ANG THONG PROVINCE

Abstract

This study aims to: 1) examine the level of acceptance of female politicians, and 2) compare the acceptance of female politicians among residents of Ang Thong Municipality, Mueang Ang Thong District, Ang Thong Province, classified by personal factors. This is a mixed methods research. The conceptual framework is based on the ideas of Jarungtip Khidarn. The population consists of 8,296 residents living within the Ang Thong Municipality, Mueang Ang Thong District, Ang Thong Province. The sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan's table, resulting in a sample of 367 people. The research instrument was a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. The statistical methods used for data analysis included frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and F-test.

          The study found that: 1) The overall level of acceptance of female politicians was high. When considering each aspect from the highest to the lowest mean score, all five aspects were rated at a high level. These include: behavior (highest mean), followed by administration, thinking, morality and ethics, emotional aspects, and knowledge (lowest mean). 2) The comparison of the acceptance of female politicians among residents of Ang Thong Municipality, Mueang Ang Thong District, Ang Thong Province, classified by personal factors, revealed that there was no significant difference in acceptance based on gender. However, there were statistically significant differences at the .05 level in the acceptance of female politicians based on occupation and educational level.