The gender’ problem in traditional handicraft enterprises in the periphery of Ha Noi (VietNam)

Women always play an important role in economic, cultural and social developments of Vietnam. Previously, due to the heavy influence by the feudal confucian ideology on the social and cultural aspects, women were not allowed to participate in the key activities in the traditional handicraft businesses. Currently, with the change of the economic and social conditions, they were gradually involved in the activities that only reserved for men previously as direct production, trade and even control the business. Research results reveal that at communes having famous traditional handicraft villages around Vietnam, there are marked changes in roles and positions of women employees in production and business tasks at traditional small handicraft enterprises. In addition, based on in- depth interviews with 50 business owners and 157 face – to – face workers, we identified women suffer from discrimination occurred at assigned tasks, decision making and income. So, it’s needed to have consistent policies in order to empower to women, reducing the gender inequalities in production and business in the field of traditional handicraft, this will contribute to sustainable rural development.