Leavers and the 'left-behind' : a case study on female rural-urban migration in the Red River Delta, Vietnam | |
| Author | Ha Thi Van Khanh |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-05-10 |
| Subject(s) | Rural-urban migration--Vietnam Women immigrants--Vietnam |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-05-10 |
| Abstract | Spontaneous rural-urban female migration to big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city has been a common phenomenon since economic renovation known as Doi Moi in Vietnam. Transfer of land use right to rural households as the result of the land reform, the lift of Government's subsidy policies on goods and services and the privatization of state-owned enterprises have facilitated this type of migration. They are circular female migrants from rural areas to the cities in the hope of diversifying their livelihoods and improving their living standard in the countryside by their remittances. Migrant women to Hanoi in this research come from two communes in Xuan Truong district, Nam Dinh province in the Red River Delta. They mainly work in the city as itinerant junk buyers, street vendors and scavengers. Women from the same villages usually live in the same hostels in the city for mutual assistance and support, sustain the same networks and regularly return to the countryside during peak farm labor periods of rice cultivation. They have to suffer from hard working and living conditions in destination in order to earn some savings to supplement household expenditures in the rural areas. Their remittances indeed contribute considerable part in total household income and help improve their living standards in the countryside. Their parents and husbands generally remain in the countryside taking care of farm work and children. They have no intention of living permanently in the city due to close ties with their families in the places of origin. The study examines the changing gender division of labor in production and social reproduction in rural households in the context of rural-urban female migration. Productive and reproductive work is mainly done by migrant women's husbands and other kin but the traditional reproductive role of women seems to be sustained through their regular home visits. Migrant women can quickly respond to the reproductive needs from home such as sickness and farm work and other family business due to easy transport and communication network. Their responsibility and role in households are therefore visible despite their absence from home. The involvement of migrant women in the informal sector helps maintain this type of 2 gendered mobility. Gender division of labor is not radically disrupted but is made possible and maintained by the flexible natures of their jobs in Hanoi and their migration. This research is based on primary and secondary data collection both in Hanoi and in the two communes, and has employed an ethnographic approach that includes a household survey, semi-structured interviews and participation observation. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-05-10 |
| 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) | Resurreccion, Bernadette; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Earth, Barbara ;Sajor, Edsel E.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |