Gender impacts of cross-border works : the case of Khmer workers in Tri Ton District, Vietnam | |
| Author | Thai Huynh Phuong Lan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-09-13 |
| Subject(s) | Khmers--Economic aspects--Vietnam Khmers--Social aspects--Vietnam |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-09-13 |
| Abstract | Poverty is the central point forcing Khmer ethnic people moving across the border to Cambodia in search of better in come. Specifically, lack of productive land is the primary factor forcing many ethnic people move across the border for income earning. Low - educated and language barriers are also reasons hindering Khmer people from accessing to available works in the city in original country . Importantly, kin tie with Cambodian is the safe social network encourag ing them move across the border to Cambodia. Most of the cross - border workers under this study are illiterate. There are only three among forty cross - border work ers under the study having secondary level. In addition, most of these cross - border workers are rather old. Importantly, nearly half of the interviewed cross - border workers’ households are poor households. This study focuses on the effects of incomes from the cross - border workers on their families in original country. Incomes from cross - border works have been proven to be very important resources for the family of cross - border workers. They have significantly improved the total incomes and the living stand ards of cross - border workers’ family. It helps smoothing the daily necessary expenses and eases investment in human capital. The study also shows that even though women are the budget managers in the family, they just have decisive role for daily petty sp ending, such as spending money for daily consumptions and human capital such as health care and education of children. For bigger expenses as investing money for economic activities, repairing and rebuilding their houses or buying other expensive appliance s, men are the final decision makers. In addition, even though involving in productive works as men, women are still expected to fulfill reproductive works. Therefore, women’s burden is increased; they have to adjust to fulfill two tasks. Besides, the st udy also shows that although income from cross - border work helps women have more economic contribution to their households, the gender relation in the household does not change much; men are still the head of the households because of the influence of ethn ic norms and socially constructed gender norms . However, it can help women have better attitude from their husbands. |
| Year | 2009 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-09-13 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Doneys, Philippe;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Deutscher Akademischer Austrausch Dienst (DAAD); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009 |