Gender issues in the poverty reduction in mountainous areas of Thai Nguyen

Phí Hùng Cường và đtg<br /> <br /> Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ<br /> <br /> 81(05): 79 - 83<br /> <br /> GENDER ISSUES IN THE POVERTY REDUCTION<br /> IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF THAI NGUYEN<br /> Phi Hung Cuong1*, Vu Van Anh2<br /> 1<br /> <br /> College of Sciences - TNU, 2College of Education - TNU<br /> <br /> SUMMARY<br /> Gender issues are closely related to poverty and development. The annual reports on human<br /> development show that the poor provinces have low human development index and gender<br /> development index The given issues show that poverty and inequality are major factors hindering<br /> the development of mountainous Thai Nguyen today. These two issues have the corelation that<br /> makes difficulties in mountainous areas more serious and it is not easy to overcome in a short<br /> time. Therefore, besides improvements in many aspects, the work of poverty reduction in<br /> mountainous areas, especially in highlands, ethnic minority areas of Thai Nguyen is in difficulties.<br /> In this context, implementing methods of poverty reduction and combined gender equality<br /> improvement is an actually reasonable way to reduce poverty effectively and sustainably. The<br /> solution is to ensure synchronization and system on the basis of expansion of opportunities, access<br /> to services, risk reduction and right creation for women.<br /> Keyword: Gender, poverty reduction, poverty, mountainous, ThaiNguyen<br /> <br /> INTRODUCTION*<br /> Gender issues are closely related to poverty<br /> and development. The annual reports on<br /> human development show that the poor<br /> provinces have low human development<br /> index and gender development index. So is it<br /> possible that improving gender equality will<br /> also contribute to poverty alleviation for the<br /> people? The article refers to the relationship<br /> between gender and poverty, and propose<br /> methods for reducing poverty and improving<br /> gender equality in midland and mountainous<br /> provinces such as Thai Nguyen. .<br /> CONTENT<br /> 2.1. Poverty in Thai Nguyen.<br /> Poverty and inequality between rich and poor<br /> is a hot socio-economic issue today. It is a<br /> big drag on the way to construct and develop<br /> Thai Nguyen province according to<br /> orientation of socialism in Vietnam.<br /> The province has 36 extremely difficult<br /> communes where the Government and the<br /> province have carried out the project for the<br /> socio- economic development in difficult<br /> communes in mountainous or remoted areas<br /> (Programme 135). Provincal People’s<br /> *<br /> <br /> Tel: 0915210558; Email: phihungcuongtn@yahoo.com<br /> <br /> Committee has developed projects for the<br /> socio-economic<br /> development<br /> for<br /> 36<br /> extremely difficult communes of three<br /> districts: Vo Nhai, Dinh Hoa and Phu Luong.<br /> These districts have difficult natural<br /> conditions<br /> for<br /> the<br /> socio-economic<br /> development.<br /> Table 2.1. Poverty rate by province in 2007 in<br /> Thai Nguyen<br /> Poverty rate<br /> No.<br /> Districts<br /> (%)<br /> 1<br /> Dinh Hoa<br /> 34.06<br /> 2<br /> Dai Tu<br /> 23.66<br /> 3<br /> Dong Hy<br /> 20:55<br /> 4<br /> Phu Luong<br /> 26.61<br /> 5<br /> Vo Nhai<br /> 41.09<br /> 6<br /> Phu Binh<br /> 24.22<br /> 7<br /> Pho Yen<br /> 18:47<br /> 8<br /> Song Cong<br /> 13.90<br /> 9<br /> Thai Nguyen<br /> 5:59<br /> Source: Department of Labor, Invalids and Social<br /> Affairs in Thai Nguyen province<br /> <br /> In fact, although poverty alleviation has<br /> gained good results but problems related to<br /> the relationship between poverty reduction<br /> and sustainable use of resources in<br /> mountainous Thai Nguyen is still a matter of<br /> urgency. This is also a challenge for Central<br /> policy makers and local managers.<br /> 79<br /> <br /> Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu - Đại học Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn<br /> <br /> Phí Hùng Cường và đtg<br /> <br /> Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ<br /> <br /> Poverty<br /> reduction<br /> and<br /> sustainable<br /> management of natural resources requires the<br /> participation and joint efforts of women, men<br /> and authorities. This is especially important<br /> with the mountainous area as Thai Nguyen,<br /> where ethnic communities reside alternately,<br /> where ethnic minorities have their own<br /> concepts and habits in dealing with natural<br /> resources. For women, participating in the<br /> authorities, unions is an important mechanism<br /> to reflect the wills and aspirations of their<br /> gender in activities of poverty reduction and<br /> resource use in each locality. However, in<br /> mountainous Thai Nguyen, the participation<br /> rate of women leaders at grassroots level is very<br /> low, the operation of the association of women<br /> also face difficulties. Therefore, to create<br /> conditions for women, particularly women of<br /> ethnic minority to participate in issues of<br /> sustainable management of natural resources<br /> and poverty reduction is also a challenge in<br /> mountainous province as Thai Nguyen.<br /> 2.2. The relationship between gender and<br /> poverty<br /> Gender: is all the characteristics of society<br /> and culture related to men and women. These<br /> features differ in different societies and<br /> change over time.<br /> There are different trends when discussing on<br /> the relationship between gender and poverty.<br /> <br /> 81(05): 79 - 83<br /> <br /> The first trend accepts the differences<br /> between men and women in poverty and the<br /> opportunity to escape poverty, as this is<br /> natural matter without justification and<br /> without change. This concept indicates that<br /> the difference between men and women is<br /> regulated by the nature (biological factors) so<br /> if women are weaker, poorer than men, it is<br /> understandable. The second trend do not<br /> acknowledge differences between men and<br /> women, but they are the same in poverty.<br /> Both men or and women will need the same<br /> supports and solutions to escape poverty. This<br /> concept shows that poverty is not related to<br /> gender. The third trend indicates that gender<br /> does not determine the capacity or the poverty<br /> level of men, women. On the contrary, the<br /> social factors affect the position, role and<br /> improvement of women and men. This concept<br /> also indicates that a low social position is a<br /> factor that raises risk and leads to poverty.<br /> Actually, the relationship between gender and<br /> poverty can be considered on three main<br /> aspects of production, reproduction and<br /> correlation between the two genders today.<br /> On the aspect of production, this relationship<br /> is demonstrated in the structure of labor in the<br /> national economic sectors in which women<br /> workers constitute the most.<br /> <br /> Table 2.2. Male and female laborers classified by economic sector in Thai Nguyen in 2007<br /> (Unit: person)<br /> No.<br /> <br /> Economic category<br /> <br /> 1<br /> <br /> Agriculture, forestry and fisheries<br /> <br /> 2<br /> <br /> Industry, construction, ..<br /> <br /> 3<br /> <br /> Production, distribution of electricity, water<br /> <br /> 4<br /> <br /> Male<br /> Female<br /> 2005<br /> 2007<br /> 2005<br /> 2007<br /> 209,587 208,540 207,206 203,898<br /> 48,624<br /> <br /> 58,385<br /> <br /> 37,455<br /> <br /> 37,052<br /> <br /> 2,110<br /> <br /> 3,045<br /> <br /> 769<br /> <br /> 1,289<br /> <br /> Trade, repair of cars ..<br /> <br /> 24,889<br /> <br /> 30,265<br /> <br /> 21,198<br /> <br /> 24,028<br /> <br /> 5<br /> <br /> Sevices, employment<br /> <br /> 5,197<br /> <br /> 8,344<br /> <br /> 9,105<br /> <br /> 11,045<br /> <br /> 6<br /> <br /> Information, banks ...<br /> <br /> 909<br /> <br /> 1,590<br /> <br /> 1,113<br /> <br /> 1,905<br /> <br /> 7<br /> <br /> Scienctific special subjects ..<br /> <br /> 1,894<br /> <br /> 2,160<br /> <br /> 991<br /> <br /> 1,145<br /> <br /> 8<br /> 9<br /> <br /> Party activities, Politic organizations<br /> Total<br /> <br /> 15,065 16,657 22,435 24,333<br /> 308,275 328,986 300,272 304,695<br /> <br /> Source: Statistical Office of Thai Nguyen 2007<br /> <br /> 80<br /> <br /> Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu - Đại học Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn<br /> <br /> Phí Hùng Cường và đtg<br /> <br /> Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ<br /> <br /> Women participate more in agricultural<br /> production while men are hired labors. Thus,<br /> women have a lot of difficulties to escape<br /> poverty owing to the risky characteristic of<br /> agricultural<br /> production,<br /> especially<br /> in<br /> mountainous areas where natural conditions<br /> are not favorable for food crops.<br /> On the aspect of reproduction, women have a<br /> direct role in developing and maintaining<br /> race. This is related to the role of mothers.<br /> The studies concluded that: education of<br /> women has a positive impact to the birth rate<br /> reduction, mothers who finish a primary<br /> school has a lower birth rate than illiterate<br /> mothers. Education of mothers has a positive<br /> impact in reducing the rate of malnutrition in<br /> children under the age of 5, increasing<br /> numbers of school years of children. Also,<br /> when considering the viewpoint of care and<br /> nurture, women with education and health<br /> have conditions to take care of family<br /> members better, and more scientificaly.<br /> Clearly, if the society invests more actively in<br /> improving education and health of women, it<br /> means to invest in human development - a<br /> decisive<br /> factor<br /> for<br /> the<br /> sustainable<br /> development of each locality.<br /> On the third aspect: considering the<br /> correlation between the two genders today,<br /> poverty and ability to escape poverty of each<br /> gender are different because each is affected<br /> by the work they do, the location, the voice of<br /> each gender in the family, community as well<br /> as the access and management of women and<br /> men with the material and spiritual rsources.<br /> Clearly, poverty is a especially vicious cycle<br /> for women and girls in the mountainous<br /> provinces such as Thai Nguyen. But to break<br /> this vicious cycle, if you just focus on women<br /> and girls, and forget the role of men, it will be<br /> hard to get a sustainable poverty reduction.<br /> In fact, in many localities, husbands and<br /> fathers have certain voice and positions in<br /> implementing family planning.<br /> <br /> 81(05): 79 - 83<br /> <br /> In short, if the gender correlation changes<br /> positively on the basis of attracting men and<br /> creating conditions for them to change<br /> behaviors, actively discussing and making<br /> equal decisions in the family and community<br /> in order to benefit both women and men in<br /> aspects such as division of labor, allocation of<br /> resources, beneficiary interests, etc, the<br /> poverty reduction activities will be<br /> increasingly sustainable.<br /> Low<br /> educatio<br /> <br /> n<br /> <br /> Get married<br /> early<br /> Much<br /> Reproduction<br /> <br /> Poverty<br /> Bad<br /> health<br /> Lack of<br /> labor<br /> <br /> Frequent<br /> illness<br /> <br /> Figure 2.1. Poverty circle of women and girls<br /> <br /> 2.3 Some comments and recommendations<br /> For the mountainous areas in general and<br /> Thai Nguyen in particular, jobs in the labor<br /> market are still generally uncertain, with low<br /> income and much risk although jobs have<br /> been more extended than before. Poverty<br /> assessment study with the participation of the<br /> people showed that most manual labors<br /> depend on seasonal crops; they can be refused<br /> to pay the salaries/wages by the foremen, or<br /> they have to work overwhelmedly and face<br /> accidents, etc. The average amount of money<br /> the workers get is 15,000 dongs per day;<br /> women always get the lower rate than men<br /> (DFID and Consulting Ageles 2003).<br /> Methods for creating job stability, assuring<br /> working conditions and being guranteed by<br /> the law offices need to be implemented for<br /> both women and men in mountainous areas.<br /> In agricultural production, access to services<br /> of agricultural expansion encouragement and<br /> credits is an important condition to expand<br /> production. Poor women and men generally<br /> have less access to the argricultural extension<br /> services. The fact that women work and men<br /> 81<br /> <br /> Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu - Đại học Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn<br /> <br /> Phí Hùng Cường và đtg<br /> <br /> Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ<br /> <br /> study is common in many areas throughout<br /> the country. Although women occupy mainly<br /> in agricultural production, including both<br /> cultivation and breeding, the rate in which<br /> women participate in cultivation training<br /> sessions only occupies 25%, in breeding<br /> training sessions 10%.<br /> Effective land use and management is a<br /> necessary condition for the poor to have a<br /> stable life and strive to escape poverty. For<br /> the land management, being granted the<br /> certificate to receive the right of land use is<br /> important. In fact, until now, the undersigned<br /> women for the certificate have occupied a low<br /> rate among granted certificates of land use<br /> right. Especially, the rate of certificates<br /> names the wife and husband is too low. This<br /> is common to all types of land, including<br /> annual arable land, tree planting land and<br /> forest land.<br /> Notably, the group of poor women has few<br /> conditions to control soil. The percentage of<br /> women signing the certificate of land use<br /> rights in the group of poorest households is 57% of the total number of certificates already<br /> issued for soils. For mountainous areas,<br /> forest land has a significant meaning, but only<br /> 5% of wives and 2% of spouses sign the<br /> certificate of forest land use rights; this is<br /> clearly the condition that resource managers<br /> and the authorities should be particularly<br /> interested in.<br /> Strengthening the participation of women,<br /> especially women in highlands, women of<br /> ethnic minorities in the discussions and<br /> decisions on matters of economy, society<br /> poverty reduction is an urgent demand<br /> nowadays . The specific methods of concern<br /> include giving information on poverty<br /> reduction activities in a timely manner and<br /> appropriate language and form for women,<br /> supporing the activities of unions, especially<br /> the activities of the Women's Union in the<br /> difficult areas, training of the young women<br /> to become officers in the localities.<br /> In short, poverty and gender inequality,<br /> particularly in mountainous and remoted<br /> areas in Thai Nguyen is the general result of<br /> complicated and mixed social factors. The<br /> solutions set out need to take inclusiveness.<br /> <br /> 81(05): 79 - 83<br /> <br /> CONCLUSIONS<br /> The given issues show that poverty and<br /> inequality are major factors hindering the<br /> development of mountainous Thai Nguyen<br /> today. These two issues have the corelation<br /> that makes difficulties in mountainous areas<br /> more serious and it is not easy to overcome<br /> in a short time. Therefore, besides<br /> improvements in many aspects, the work of<br /> poverty reduction in mountainous areas,<br /> especially in highlands, ethnic minority areas<br /> of Thai Nguyen is in difficulties. In this<br /> context, implementing methods of poverty<br /> reduction and combined gender equality<br /> improvement is an actually reasonable way to<br /> reduce poverty effectively and sustainably.<br /> The solution is to ensure synchronization and<br /> system on the basis of expansion of<br /> opportunities, access to services, risk<br /> reduction and right creation for women.<br /> To do this, then all levels and sectors need<br /> special attention to the poor women in<br /> general, including women and girls of ethnic<br /> minorities, women and disadvantaged areas,<br /> and women who are the head of household<br /> because they are easily vulnerable objects.<br /> Sectors, especially agriculture and rual<br /> development, education, health and localities<br /> first of all Party Committees, governments and<br /> unions at the grassroots level need to create<br /> conditions for raising awareness and changes of<br /> actions to ensure that poor women to participate<br /> and benefit as equally as men in poverty<br /> reduction from the results of the development<br /> process in general in each locality.<br /> REFERENCE<br /> [1]. DFID and UNDP 2003. Poverty Reduction in<br /> Northern Mountainous Areas (in Vietnamese).<br /> [2]. The General Statistics Office.2006. Results of<br /> Standard of Living of Households in 2006. Some<br /> Main Results (in Vietnamese).<br /> [3]. National Committee for the Advancement of<br /> Women in 2000. Situation Analysis and Policy<br /> Recommendations on Gender Equality and<br /> Advancement of Women (in Vietnamese).<br /> [4]. Tran Thi Van Anh, Gender in poverty<br /> alleviation and Development in mountainous<br /> areas, Journal of women, Vol. 5, 2004 (in<br /> Vietnamese).<br /> [5]. Truong Thi Thuy Hang, Research in Human<br /> Development Index reflecting genders in some<br /> localities, Journal of women, Vol.1, 2005 (in<br /> Vietnamese).<br /> <br /> 82<br /> <br /> Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu - Đại học Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn<br /> <br /> Phí Hùng Cường<br /> <br /> Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ<br /> <br /> 81(05): 79 - 83<br /> <br /> TÓM TẮT<br /> VẤN ĐỀ GIỚI TRONG XOÁ ĐÓI GIẢM NGHÈO Ở MIỀN NÚI THÁI NGUYÊN<br /> Phí Hùng Cường1*, Vũ Vân Anh2<br /> 1<br /> <br /> 2<br /> <br /> Trường ĐH Khoa học - ĐH Thái Nguyên, Trường ĐH Sư phạm - ĐH Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> Vấn đề giới có quan hệ mật thiết với nghèo đói và phát triển. Các báo cáo thường niên về phát<br /> triển con người cho thấy các tỉnh nghèo đồng thời cũng là các tỉnh có chỉ số phát triển con người<br /> và chỉ số phát triển giới thấp. Nghèo đói và bất bình đẳng là yếu tố chính kìm hãm sự phát triển<br /> miền núi Thái Nguyên hiện nay. Hai vấn đề này có mối liên hệ qua lại làm cho những khó khăn ở<br /> miền núi thêm trầm trọng và không dễ khắc phục trong thời gian ngắn. Vì lẽ đó, bên cạnh những<br /> cải thiện về nhiều mặt thì công tác xoá đói giảm nghèo ở miền núi, đặc biệt đối với vùng cao, vùng<br /> dân tộc thiểu số Thái Nguyên còn gặp nhiều khó khăn. Trong bối cảnh này, thực hiện các biện<br /> pháp xoá đói giảm nghèo có kết hợp nâng cao bình đẳng giới là hướng đi hợp lý nhất để giảm<br /> nghèo hiệu quả và bền vững. Các giải pháp này nhằm đảm bảo tính đồng bộ và hệ thống trên cơ sở<br /> mở rộng cơ hội, khả năng tiếp cận dịch vụ, giảm rủi ro và tạo quyền cho phụ nữ.<br /> Từ khóa: giới, xóa đói giảm nghèo, đói nghèo, miền núi, Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> *<br /> <br /> Tel: 0915210558; Email: phihungcuongtn@yahoo.com<br /> <br /> 83<br /> <br /> Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu - Đại học Thái Nguyên<br /> <br /> http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn<br /> <br />