In the past two decades, Vietnam has made tremendous socio-economic developments and reforms. With an emerging middle class and declining poverty rate, Vietnam today is considered by many to be a cosmopolitan nation experiencing rapid economic growth and success. In addition to decreasing poverty and hunger rates, many national and international efforts have been made to increase the education, social, and economic opportunities available to women. But these efforts haven’t always worked out as hoped.
What’s Been Done
The drive to promote gender equality in Vietnam can be seen in a series of laws passed in recent years. In 2006, the National Assembly passed the Law on Gender Equality that implemented state policies to promote gender equality in politics, economy, culture and society. The following year, the legislature passed the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control that would prevent and support domestic violence victims, as well as legally punish domestic violence offenders.
In March 2009, the Vietnamese government and the United Nation signed a four-year Joint Program on Gender Equality with a mission to work “across the health, education and economic sectors…targeting in particular vulnerable women and girls… [and to] monitor the [Law on Gender Equality and Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control]…” Vietnamese women have also earned other legal rights, such as equal inheritance rights, suffrage, ownership rights, parental authority, marriage and divorce rights, and civil liberties as men.
However, despite these advancements, women in Vietnam still face more discrimination and disadvantages than their male counterparts. New laws may provide protection from legal prejudice, but women still face deeply ingrained societal discrimination. The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap Report uses the Gender Gap Index (an indicator that measures the magnitude of gender-based disparities) ranked Vietnam at 66 out of 135 countries in 2012, a significant decrease from its 2007 rank of 42.
Why Does Gender Inequality Still Persist?
Traditional Confucian values are still prevalent in modern day Vietnam. In Confucian traditions, public life and responsibilities remains largely male-dominated, while females tend to unpaid domestic chores in the household. This female-inferiority complex corresponds to Vietnam’s sex ratio and widespread desire for a male child. The CIA World Factbook in 2011 reports Vietnam’s sex ratio at birth as 1.12 male/female (112 male born for every 100 female). This trend is estimated to increase to a gap of 10% more male than females. A smaller female population will lead to a higher demand for women. In a poverty-stricken society where women are seen as second-class citizens, this could lead to men having little hesitance to profit in pleasure and in price from exploiting women in gender-based violence and human trafficking. Many financially stable couples have even invested in ultrasound scans and illegally aborting female fetuses.
In rural areas, preference for a son can be traced back to the belief that sons would be more financially beneficial to the family than daughters. However, statistics have shown young women from rural areas who migrate to cities tend to send more money back to their hometowns than men. This son bias corresponds with UNESCO’s 2010 report on education in Vietnam, with 46% of enrolled primary school students being girls and only 43% of students enrolled in lower secondary schools being girls.
Furthermore, changes in policy have not necessarily translated to changes in behavior. While the new laws guarantee prosecution and punishment of domestic violence abusers and sexual harassment felons, many Vietnamese women have yet to benefit from these laws. The National Study on Domestic Violence Against Women in Vietnam conducted in 2010 reported that one in three (34%) of ever-married women have faced physical or sexual violence from their husbands at some time in their lives.
In some regions, the home is a dangerous place for four out of ten women. Women who face abuse by their husbands are likely to face severe physical and mental consequences: victims of domestic violence are two times more likely to encounter health and physical problems, and three times more likely to become suicidal. Despite domestic violence being a criminal offense and that men and women in Vietnam have equal divorce rights, most women still choose to stay silent about their circumstance. Nearly two-thirds of women believe it is normal or acceptable for husbands to beat their wives. Reported annual domestic violence cases remain low due to the societal shame and stigma that prevents many women from desire to report their adversity to authorities. This phenomenon of learned helplessness traps Vietnamese women in situations of high exposure and risk; yet, even if given the opportunity to escape such fate, they are unwilling to act.
The movement towards gender equality in Vietnam has taken big steps in the past years, and many agencies, organizations and individuals continue to fight for women’s empowerment, tolerance and equality. More and more opportunities begin to arise as it becomes clear that women are essential and important social, economic and social assets. No nation can flourish when it leaves half of its population behind, and proper investment and treatment of these individuals to live up to their potential will lead to a more prosperous and secure future.
Want to learn more about gender inequality and how it can be changed? The Half the Sky book (now also a documentary) and this write-up on why it’s important to invest in girls from the Girl Effect are two great starting points. VNHELP is also doing our best to build more equitable lives for women in Vietnam through our microfinance, health, and education projects. Contact us if you’d like more information.
Photo by Espen Faugstad via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Tags: women & girls