Gender roles and ethnicity in agricultural water management: a case study of Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Women form a crucial part of Vietnam’s agricultural labor force and contribute to national economic development. Still, often the nature of their contribution is inadequately recognized by broad sectors of society. Due to entrenched gender roles and norms, women’s influence over agricultural activity decision-making at the household and institutional levels is limited and poorly acknowledged. This paper explores women’s participation at a household and local level in agricultural water resources management. This research draws upon field studies conducted in Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, Vietnam, a predominantly wetlands environment but with some prominent low hills that present different challenges for water management. The study employed focus group discussion, in-depth interviews, and participant observations to gather data at households and higher levels of governance. The findings highlight that despite being central to socio-economic production across multiple aspects of water wetlands management, women’s voices are overlooked for inclusion within management institutions. It was noted that Khmer minority women tend to be better represented at the household level than Kinh women, but both Khmer and Kinh women’s decision-making power over wetlands and water management at higher institutional levels is still limited.