Women’s Status during Reform in Vietnam

Phuong Pham, Pennsylvania State University
Rukmalie Jayakody, Pennsylvania State University

One of the most recent changes in Vietnam, occurring in 1986, was the call for a transition from a collectivist to a free market economic system. While the economic consequences of this transition are well documented, the specific implications for women need further exploration. This study examines Vietnamese women’s status during the course of economic reform using: 1) the 1989 and 1999 Vietnam Census; 2) the 2006 Vietnam Population Change Survey; 3) the 1992, 1998, and 2002 Vietnam Living Standard Surveys; and 4) the 1997 and 2002 Vietnam Demographic and Health Surveys. Pooled cross sections are analyzed and findings indicate that: 1) the absolute position of women improved in both domains; 2) their relative status compared to men increased in the public domain but not in the domestic domain; and 3) urban women and Southern women seemed to experience a larger gender gap with men in both domains.