Gender, labor migration and changes in small-scale farming on Vietnam's north-central coast

Abstract

Drawing on the narratives of women and men who have domestic or international migration experiences, this study explores the gendered impacts of migration on small-scale farming in rural Ha Tinh province in Vietnam. The paper investigates men's and women's migration experiences, their influence on agricultural production, and impact on their livelihoods after migration. The findings show that households use various strategies to sustain agricultural production in the absence of some members. Women's increased economic independence through labor migration has not necessarily lead to their increased management roles in agriculture, but they are increasingly challenging stereotypical images of rural women. While migration can be a catalyst for men to transform their livelihoods, it can also widen gaps in social and economic statuses among men.

Non-Farm Activities and Impacts beyond the Economy of Rural Households in Vietnam: A Review and Link to Policies

“…The income or consumption per capita of farm households who conduct non-farm activities has generally been 5-25% higher than those that do not, depending on the type and scale of their non-farm activities [23,29,[34][35][36]. Some households used a fraction of their additional income for farming investments, such as buying equipment or crop diversification [37,38], that in turn increased income from farm activities. Nowadays, non-farm activities, supported by government policies aiming at a development of the rural economy, have become important sources of income across rural areas of Vietnam [39,40].…”

“…Although the province has an industrial park, rural households have accessed non-farm opportunities mainly through organised recruitment for domestic or international migratory jobs. Based on statistical data from 2016, Ha Tinh is among Vietnam's main sources of domestic and international working migrants [38]. Those who left the farms were mostly young people expecting to compensate their exit from the family farms with remittance [56].…”

“…Firstly, change in length of working hours or distance to work, including in the case of migration, could substantially reduce communication and cohesiveness within families [47] or generate intense longing and anxiety in those who were left behind or who migrated [38]. Secondly, in the case of migration, a strong expectation from family members that the migrants must be financially successful imposes pressure on migrants and affects the ties between migrants and their family, although in some cases, this became a strong motivational force [38]. This expectation has been partly driven by the need to pay back loans used to cover the cost of accessing non-farm jobs.…”

“…This benefit, however, mainly applies to men. As expounded in [38], in general, rural households in Vietnam still observe a patriarchal system in which men are expected to cover the financial needs of their family and make important household decisions. Men's bargaining power within families depends on the income that they generate and material wealth such as homes and land that they afford from that income.…”

“…In addition to increasing social tension among community groups, non-farm activities may affect social bridging at least in two other ways, both related to migration. Especially in the case of female migrants, long absences from the village can result in false accusations or negative rumours from the community or neighbours [38]. One such accusation is being involved in prostitution.…”