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Link: https://www.pattayaunlimited.com/thailand-land-of-face/
The article that I read specifically touched on the idea of ‘face,’ as a Thai value, mode of behavior, and way to navigate society. Though it went over some similar concepts from the modules, this offered me a more focused and in depth idea of what ‘face’ really means, or what it could look like, in a few different scenarios.
The idea of kreng jai was emphasized in maintaining face, as the goal is to not have heated arguments, disrespect others, or lose your temper, virtually ever. The article states keeping your cool is of the utmost importance. I was able to relate to and visualize this concept more when the author compared this seemingly Thai ideal, to an everybody ideal. They explained that people have a sense of worth, pride, and reputation embedded within them that wishes to not be tarnished because it can lead to shame or a feeling of embarrassment. It is safe to assume that this intrinsic dialogue is relatable to most people, if not just myself, and likely produces specific responses to maintain a sense of community, happiness, and confidence. While pondering the why’s of ‘face’ and trying to put myself in the shoes of scenarios, it is clear that the concept plays into the ideal of collectivism; keeping the peace within yourself may offer peace in all interactions, which may be influential towards other parties involved, and this in turn puts peace and kind interactions out into society, therefore the well-being of group is being put first and before oneself – all because of carrying out ‘face.’
The article continued on to state that this concept is much less emphasized in Western places when making a complaint, as they are generally less likely to be polite about it. The example that they used wasn’t necessarily painting ‘face’ in a bad light, though, just a different light. It states that a western car dealer would more likely explain that the car has been delayed, apologize, and then ask the customer to get their car an hour later, which considers the customer’s time and service instead of being worried about ‘losing face,’ or diminishing any kind of credibility that they have. Being from the United States, the way of doing business is usually expected to be quick, concise, and correct, and when this doesn’t happen, that customer usually has something to say about
it. Because I intend on being in Thailand for some time, while working and integrating into the community, I understand that their kreng jai attitude may collide with what I know as the norm. I am quite the easy-going person myself, but given that I have never lived in Thailand before, it’s difficult to completely fathom what an easy-going attitude may look like in certain scenarios – I might actually not be according to Thai society! For instance, being on the receiving end of a substantially more lax attitude while dealing with timely, important, and/or serious steps might be slightly jarring or even anxiety-provoking. With that said, the article, as well as the modules, stated that the best thing to keep in mind is to just be polite, don’t raise your voice or get angry, and be tactful if you have a complaint to make. It is important to keep in mind to not necessarily lower your standards, but alter your attitude and achieve a balance that maintains certain standards while still taking in the concept of ‘face.’ This combination of ideals, though opposite, may work very well together in a work environment; through ‘face,’ morale may be kept high, and through western ideals, workers may feel more inclined to voice their individual opinions in group settings.All in all, this article helped me develop my concept of ‘face,’ and what my journey with it could look like. I’m excited to dive deep into Thai culture and societal standards. I think it will be very interesting to see how Thai people work, converse, and act with one another, myself, and with my peers from other countries too! I can’t wait!
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