Limited Equality: Contradictory Ideas about Gender and the Implications for Reproductive Health in Rural Vietnam

Abstract

The historical convergence of various ideologies, particularly Confucian and communist/socialist doctrines, has fostered contradictory gender norms and attitudes that affect reproductive health in contemporary Vietnam. Patriarchal ideas rooted in Confucianism coexist with the concept of gender equality. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study and preliminary results from a structured survey. It examines how contradictory norms and attitudes affect women's reproductive health by influencing reproductive decision making, family planning responsibilities, responses to reproductive health problems and couple communication.* The authors are indebted to a number of different organisations and individuals for their contributions to the research on which this paper is based. We wish to thank the other members of our research team:

‘I'd do it for love or for money’: Vietnamese women in Taiwan and the social construction of female migrant sexuality

“…In Confucian worldview of social harmony, women are expected to submit to and depend on their husbands in social, economic and sexual aspects of life (Rydstrom 2004;Santillán et al 2002). The pressure to 'please' one's husband (chiều chồng) in both social and sexual terms is thus considerable, turning women's sexual activities into a duty rather than something they may initiate and enjoy (Gammeltoft 1999, 162).…”

Gender relations and sexual communication among female students in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam

“…Previous research in Vietnam has suggested that gender inequality, cultural norms and societal double standards heavily constrain young women’s capability to negotiate safer sex and to control their own sexual activity, making them vulnerable to sexual health risks (Consultation of Investment in Health Promotion 2005; Santillan et al 2002; Vu 2008; World Health Organisation 2005). Unmarried young women, for example, are impeded by traditional norms from initiating conversation with their boyfriends about contraceptive or condom use.…”

“…One reason for this is that showing their knowledge, skills or experience related to contraceptive use may call their virginity into question or result in contempt from their boyfriends (Khuat 2003). Among married women, refusing unwanted sex and asking their husbands to use a condom or to undergo sterilisation would violate cultural norms (Santillan et al 2002). …”

“…The few studies that do exist mainly target married women and women living in the north or the central of Vietnam (Belanger and Hong 1999; Consultation of Investment in Health Promotion 2005; Santillan et al 2002; World Health Organisation 2005). To our knowledge, there has not been any published quantitative report on this issue in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam, whose culture is somewhat dissimilar.…”

Developing indicators to assess women's empowerment in Vietnam

“…For example, many said that men and women were equal but that women's equality should be 'limited' (cf. Santillán et al 2002). One man stated: 'Husband and wife are equal, but the wife has to listen to the husband and must not overstep him.'…”