Gender, Jobs and Empowerment in Vietnamese Small Enterprises of Traditional Handicraft: Case Study in the Periphery of Hanoi

Women are the main workforce of traditional craft sector in Vietnam. They not only actively
participate in production, but also succeed in leading enterprises as managers. Even though women contribute much to the achievement of companies, they face many constraints in working places due to theories of Confucianism and Buddhism. This research aims at answering two questions: (i) whether or not gender inequality exists in small scale craft enterprises and, (ii) how is empowerment the women employees in the firms. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are applied to collect information in order to clarify the research questions. Qualitatively, ethnographic approach is employed. It is explained that since 2014 the researchers go to the study areas to survey employment in the enterprises. In addition, participatory observation and oral history recording were also used to collect information (evidence) of gender inequality in employment and women empowerment in rural companies. Cross checking and supplementing were used for gathering information from communal leaders, women unions’ leaders and local residents. Quantitatively, descriptive statistics were used to analysis labor force, gender and employment of 50 enterprises in 3 traditional artisanal communes in Vietnam to find out gender inequality. Based on the result of analysis, some policy implications will be recommended to empower women as well as to reduce gender inequality in the small enterprises in
rural areas