A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994

Since Resolution No 10 of the Politburo in 1988, the agricultural production in Vietnam has been changed, and the production shifted from co-operatives to the households. Households have really become the units of production, reproduction and consumption. Households have expanded rights in land use, organization and management of the production. In the new situation, the roles of rural women in household production have been changing. Focusing on of two villages of Ha Tay province, this study aims to explore and analyze the changing roles of rural women in Vietnam in comparison with the co-operative period, and to point out the effects of economic reform on women. · Using three tools of Gender Analysis namely 1) Gender relations in Household, 2) Gender Division of Labor in Household, and 3) Gender Access to and Control of Resources and benefits, the study found that women play a major role in production, reproduction and management in households. They have engaged more in income generating activities and have had more decision making in households compared with the co-operative period. However, the position of women in the household is still lower than men. The study also found that the economic reform in Vietnam has had positive effects on national and household economies but negative effects on women, such as in labor condition, health care services, access to education and social welfare, and equality for women. Finally, some recommendations are given to farm households, to policy makers, and for further studies on women. These suggestion focus on how to reduce the adverse effects on women of the economic reforms and how to improve women's condition and position.