Institute of Social Studies, Economics and Environment Pham Quynh Phuong ---------------------------- Gender, Empowerment and Development Gender relations from the perspective of ethnic minorities in Vietnam TRAO QUYỀN HAY CHIA SẺ? Suh ĩ lại về GALFKgagjlquaười dân tộc thiểu số ở Việt Nam Phạm Quỳnh P Hanoi, 01/2012 Abbreviations: ADB Asian Development Bank GE Gender Equality MOLISA Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs CEMA Committee of Ethnic Minorities EM Ethnic Minorities GAD Gender And Development GDI Gender Development Index IDRC International Development Research Centre of Canada iSEE Institute for Social Studies, Economics and Environment UN United Nations NG National Goal NGO Non-Governmental Organization VWU Vietnam Women’s Union UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization WB World Bank WID Women in Development 2 Acknowledgements The author expresses her gratitude for the sincere contribution and hospitality of people in EM communities that have been mentioned in the report. Without their help, this report certainly would not have been completed. The author would also like to thank the field assistance from colleagues Hoang Cam, Le Kim Sa, Nguyen Quang Thuong and Nguyen Thu Huong at different times and locations within iSEE’s research programs on ethnic stereotypes, the consequences of prejudice, surveillance evaluation for program 30A, and research on cacao trees. In particular, the author acknowledges the valuable suggestions from Le Quang Binh and Luong Minh Ngoc to help complete this report. This report is the initial result of research on gender concepts in a number of ehnic minority groups in 2011, implemented by the Institute of Social Studies, Economics and Environment, with funding from Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Even though the author has put in great efforts to accomplish the research objectives, this report might still exhibit limitations and shortcomings. The author looks forward to receiving your suggestions in order to improve further researches in the future. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter I. RESEARCH BACKGROUND……………...………………………………………6 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….6 Gender access and discourse on gender inequality in ethnic minority areas.……………..6 Analytical framework………………..…………………………………………………..11 Areas and research methods……………………………………………………………..13 Chapter II. PERSPECTIVES AND GENDER RELATIONS OF EM………………………16 1. Gender roles and division of labor ……………………………………………….16 Perception on “Equality”………………………………………………………………...16 Labor distribution: women do many light chores, men do a few heavy works……….....19 Following natural and common sense……………………………………………………22 2. Accessing and increasing income………..……………..………………………..25 Income increase does not necessarily change positions ………...………………………25 “A good husband gets to manage the money”……...........................................................31 3. Participation and decision-making ……………………………………………….33 Not attending meetings does not mean not having rights.……………………………….33 Nobody makes decisions on his own…......……………………………………………...35 Administrative role does not reflect the actual role……………………………………...36 Chapter III. EMPOWERMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN’S SELF- DETERMINATION AND POSITION……………………………………………………….…38 The topic of self-determination: selecting and making decisions……………………….39 Status of EM women in traditional practices and contemporary society.………………..45 CONCLUSION………….………………………………………………………………………49 APPENDIX……………………..…………………………………..…………………………….51 REFERENCES…………………….……………………………...……………………………...54 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………..56 4 Page List of box titles Box 1: The total population of related EM groups………………………………………14 Box 2: The population of EM groups in the inspected provinces……………………….14 Box 3: The perception of equality…………………………………...…………………..16 Box 4: Leaving wife the light chores (men’s point of view)…………...………………..19 Box 5: Husband does heavy works so less is fine (women’s point of view)………..…...21 Box 6: The standards for gender roles…………………..……………………………….22 Box 7: Overview of the Dao ethnic group…….…………………………………………27 Box 8: The tradition of living at the wife’s house……...………………………………..29 Box 9: Who manages the household’s expenses………………………………………...31 Box 10: Not participating but still discussing…………………………………………...34 Box 11: Nobody makes decisions on his own..………………………………………….35 Box 12: Overview of the M’nong ethnic group…………………...…………………….40 Box 13: The Lu people in Sin Ho……….……….………………………………………41 5 CHAPTER 1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND Introduction In recent years, the issue of gender equality has been a particularly interested and intergrated topic in the socio-economic development strategies in EM areas. Besides the lack of resources and the limited access to education, health care, services, markets, the phenomenon of gender inequality is considered as one of the causes of poverty (World Bank 2009). However, several reports also reveal that development programs do not pay adequate attention to the issue of gender inequality (ADB 2006), or make assumptions that poverty reduction and income growth can increase the status for women. The Gender and Development approach (GAD) proposed by developmental organizations often puts the concept of empowerment, increasing power or enhancing position in the center, associating the gender and empowerment issues to poverty reduction. The efforts for “empowerment,” “increased power,” “enhancing position” show the developers’ belief that if women are more involved and have better ability to access, they will be able to reach equality and the burden will be lifted off their shoulders. Empowerment, therefore, has become a common term and also a measure of success for a development program (CCIHP & Oxfam Novib 2011). This effort, however, is based on outsiders’ assumptions as well as the existing analytical framework for rights and equality from the West (see Appendix). From a development point of view, it is obvious that behind the gender approaches and interventions, there are implications that women should be considered as the ones needing help to reduce poverty, they have no rights, no gender equality, no opportunities and no choices. Helping the women out of poverty, generating and improving incomes, empowering, and putting a woman on the same level with her husband, as well as liberating her from all social constraints become the goals for gender equality issues. This is demonstrated clearly in the discourse on poverty and gender equality. Being aware of the limitations of imposed interpretation, many development organizations see the need to understand the EM’s perception on gender inequality, then build programs that are more gender sensitive (CEMA và UNICEF 2009). Our study aims to, through an anthropological approach, start discovering the EM’s perception on gender practice, as well as the criteria for empowerment and equality for women, and explain the cultural basis for these perspectives. Gender access and discourse on gender inequality in EM areas Among social and cultural issues, gender and gender equality are two of the most interesting topics even though “gender,” “gender approach” “feminism” are new concepts that Vietnamese policy makers and researchers just started to approach in the 80s of the last century. From the theory which originated in the 6 West, based on the popularity and characteristics of society in Vietnam, after thirty years, the Gender studies in our country have had an extensive progress of formation and development, greatly influencing not only the views and policies of the Party and the State but also the entire social practices. Starting from the basic points of view: liberating women was one of the most important objectives of the Vietnamese revolution, the right to gender equality was affirmed in the first Constitution in 1946, and also in 1980, Vietnam became the 6th country in the world to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Along with the promulgation of the legal system on family related to gender (Marriage and Family Law of 1959, 1986, 2000 and the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence of 2007), the State has legislated the Right to Gender Equality, and this law has officially taken effect since 2006.1 The National Committee for the Advancement of Women from State to local levels has been established and consolidated by Decision 1855/QĐ-TTg (11/11/2009). The National Strategy on Gender Equality2 with specific program objectives for each period of 5 years, 10 years, along with the clearly formed Gender Development Index on State and local levels hold important roles in directing activities towards gender equality practices. For example, the National Target Programme for the period 2011-2015 mentions: creating strong shift in awareness, striving to significantly tighten the gender gap, improving the position of women in a number of key sections and areas with an existing gender inequality problem or high risk of gender inequality. Also in 2009, the Government implemented the regulations on presenting annual reports to National Assembly on the status of executing the NG of gender equality.3 In conclusion, in recent years, the issue of gender equality has been considered as a thoroughly understood content and goal under the leadership of the Party, National Assembly’s legislation as well as the direction of the Government structure. In the scientific aspect,