National Assembly Deputy Nguyễn Thị Việt Nga. — Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Thị Việt Nga

In an interview with Thế giới&Việt Nam (The World and Việt Nam Report) newspaper, National Assembly Deputy Nguyễn Thị Việt Nga, Deputy Head of Hải Dương Province’s National Assembly Delegation and a member of the Committee for Culture and Education, stressed the need to raise awareness of gender equality on both sides, beginning within the family. She noted that this approach would open up opportunities for women in the workforce to grow and thrive.

Despite significant efforts, the gap in income and career opportunities between men and women remains. What measures would you suggest to bridge this divide and promote gender equality in today’s labour market, particularly as businesses grapple with mounting competitive pressures?

In Việt Nam, while significant progress has been made in promoting gender equality, numerous challenges remain. The country is globally recognised as one of the fastest in closing the gender gap over the past 25 years, with a key factor being its comprehensive legal framework and policies that support gender equality.

However, substantial gender gaps persist in various aspects of society. Although improvements have been seen, women’s participation in politics remains limited. The number of women in leadership and management positions is disproportionately low compared to the total number of such roles and does not reflect the annual growth in the female workforce.

In the economic sphere, women face fewer opportunities to access high-income jobs compared to men. Health care services for women, especially in rural and mountainous areas, have seen little improvement. Furthermore, understanding of gender equality remains unclear for many, with inadequate access to accurate information being a key issue.

In everyday life, gender inequality still manifests itself, although its extent varies across regions and sectors. For example, rural areas and ethnic minority communities often face a wider gender gap than urban areas. Similarly, discrepancies exist between different industries and professions.

Looking forward, much remains to be done. Achieving gender equality requires efforts across all sectors and, crucially, it must begin within the family. As long as the cultural preference for sons over daughters persists, gender inequality will endure.

Even in major cities, this issue is found in well-educated families. The use of scientific methods to choose the sex of a child has become common, despite such technologies initially being developed to help couples with fertility issues. The deep-rooted desire for every family to have at least one son continues to drive this practice.

Additionally, within families, husbands are often seen as the primary breadwinners and given priority, while the responsibility for making personal sacrifices and caring for children typically falls to the wife. This division of roles is so ingrained that many women accept it without question, viewing it as their natural duty.

We must not confuse a woman’s natural roles with gender inequality. While women have unique roles, such as being mothers and maintaining a home, this does not mean they should sacrifice everything for their husbands and children.

In practice, when a child needs care, it’s almost always the mother who steps in, even at the cost of her career. This is an overlooked example of gender inequality, as it is often seen as the mother’s natural duty. Similarly, in hospitals, wives tend to care for their husbands, while women are more likely to be cared for by female relatives. When husbands do help, it’s considered exceptional.

Although gender impact assessments are required for new laws, women still face fewer job opportunities than men. Employers often prefer hiring men, viewing them as stronger and less costly due to additional benefits women require, such as maternity leave. This results in continued discrimination against women in the workplace.

To promote equality, companies should set quotas for women in leadership roles. Achieving real gender equality requires further effort, as many women still view certain responsibilities as their natural duty.

We often confuse gender equality with the notion that men and women must be identical. In reality, gender equality means there should be no discrimination based on gender. Each gender possesses distinct physical, emotional, and behavioural traits.

While there is still significant work to be done regarding gender equality, the most critical challenge lies in changing the mindset of those involved.

What policies are needed to support women in balancing work and family responsibilities, particularly in the context of pandemics, natural disasters and other unexpected situations?

Currently, women bear the primary responsibility for family duties, taking on a significant amount of unpaid work. The time they invest in their families often matches the time spent on societal obligations. Tasks such as caring for husbands and children, managing household chores, looking after elderly parents and handling social matters predominantly fall on them.

Women are expected to juggle family responsibilities while also earning an income to contribute to household expenses. This expectation places considerable pressure on them, as their roles are frequently viewed as a natural function or duty they must fulfil.

In my view, the first step is to change perceptions surrounding household responsibilities. Every family member should share the responsibility of nurturing the home, with clear divisions of labour that alleviate the burden on women. We need to shift the mindset of husbands, reinforcing that building a family is a shared responsibility between both partners. Raising awareness about gender equality must therefore start at the family level.

Secondly, Việt Nam’s legal framework does provide adequate support for women’s rights. Various laws protect women in the workforce, ensuring their rights are upheld. The country has made significant progress with laws related to gender equality, especially the law on preventing domestic violence. Efforts are ongoing to enhance the legal system further to promote gender equality effectively.

However, it is vital to emphasise that changing perceptions and committing to action is essential. Grassroots efforts, particularly within families, are crucial for fostering meaningful change in gender equality.

What strategies can we employ to effectively integrate gender equality into social welfare policies, thereby creating opportunities for women in the workforce to grow and assert themselves?

The first priority is social insurance. Our country has made commendable strides in reducing the mandatory social insurance contribution period for women compared to men, reflecting a recognition of gender-specific needs. This includes provisions for maternity leave and sick leave, especially for those with children under 36 months.

However, maternity benefits often fail to encompass all women of childbearing age, particularly those in rural areas or the informal labour sector, who remain excluded from these vital protections. This gap adversely affects both maternal and child health, as well as the sustainable workforce of the nation.

At present, welfare policies aimed specifically at women are limited, and there is a notable lack of specialised healthcare services for women and girls. This highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions that embed gender equality into social welfare programmes. Only by doing so we can establish a robust foundation for achieving national gender equality goals. — VNS