Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
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Participa<strong>to</strong>ry poverty moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
48<br />
TABLE 1.9. Educational qualifications of women aged 18 <strong>to</strong> 40, 2007-2011 (%)<br />
Commune<br />
Never<br />
went <strong>to</strong><br />
school<br />
Not hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
completed<br />
primary<br />
school<br />
(first level)<br />
Hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
completed<br />
primary<br />
school<br />
(first level)<br />
Hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
completed<br />
lower<br />
secondary<br />
school<br />
(second<br />
level)<br />
Hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
completed<br />
upper<br />
secondary<br />
school<br />
(third<br />
level)<br />
High<br />
school,<br />
college,<br />
university<br />
2007 2011 2007 2011 2007 2011 2007 2011 2007 2011 2007 2011<br />
Thuan Hoa 17 8 23 18 34 31 21 20 6 21 0 2<br />
Ban Lien 35 35 34 22 20 24 9 17 2 2 0 0<br />
Thanh Xuong 9 6 31 19 12 9 29 37 10 22 9 7<br />
Luong M<strong>in</strong>h 14 23 59 28 16 26 2 15 7 6 2 2<br />
Duc Huong 0 2 0 0 5 12 41 22 45 54 9 10<br />
Xy 59 39 20 24 7 10 13 12 2 14 0 2<br />
Cu Hue 13 11 25 21 34 25 15 21 9 16 4 7<br />
Phuoc Dai 38 25 22 37 23 22 17 14 0 2 0 0<br />
Phuoc Thanh 49 53 24 24 20 16 7 6 0 2 0 0<br />
Thuan Hoa 4 8 42 36 27 24 18 24 7 6 2 2<br />
Average 25 21 28 23 20 20 17 19 9 14 3 3<br />
SOURCE: Household <strong>in</strong>terviews<br />
Persistent gender stereotypes are an important explanation for low proportion of<br />
women <strong>in</strong> authority. At most moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts, people still th<strong>in</strong>k that it is hard for women<br />
<strong>to</strong> take part <strong>in</strong> social activities and that men are more effective <strong>in</strong> leadership positions.<br />
The Committee for the Advancement of Women is not effective. The Committee<br />
for the Advancement of Women is not operational <strong>in</strong> seven of the ten communes. In<br />
the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g three communes, the Committee only runs term-end review meet<strong>in</strong>gs. Its<br />
activities are considered the responsibility of the commune Women’s Union, and are not<br />
<strong>in</strong>corporate <strong>in</strong> other sec<strong>to</strong>rs and branches of local government.<br />
Women <strong>in</strong> local government struggle <strong>to</strong> make themselves heard. Women deputies<br />
often lack the confidence <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> government meet<strong>in</strong>gs. The Chairperson of<br />
the Ban Lien commune Women’s Union, Lao Cai prov<strong>in</strong>ce, said she rarely spoke <strong>in</strong> the<br />
commune Party Executive Committee’s meet<strong>in</strong>gs: ‘‘At the meet<strong>in</strong>gs, sitt<strong>in</strong>g alone with the<br />
men, I feel shy. I never raise my hand <strong>to</strong> speak and never speak for fear of say<strong>in</strong>g the wrong<br />
th<strong>in</strong>g. I can do everyth<strong>in</strong>g I am <strong>to</strong>ld, but not speak at meet<strong>in</strong>gs”. Women also lack respect<br />
because they are m<strong>in</strong>orities <strong>in</strong> local agencies, and very rarely hold leadership positions.<br />
Only one commune (Phuoc Dai, Nghe an) had a woman as Vice Chair of the Commune<br />
People’s Committee, and one commune (Thuan Hoa -Tra V<strong>in</strong>h) has a women as Chair of the<br />
Commune People’s Council and Vice Chair, and only one commune (Thuan Hoa - Tra V<strong>in</strong>h)<br />
has a woman as member of the Commune Party Executive Committee as Vice Secretary.<br />
Activities of Women’s Union<br />
Activities of the Women’s Union have seen positive changes <strong>in</strong> the last five years.<br />
At most moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts, membership of the Women’s Union is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g; Women’s