Impact of Climate Change to Women Exacerbated by Gender Inequality: A Case Study of Lao Cai

Citation:

Thuy, Nguyen Thi Thu, and Phan Thanh Thanh. 2019. "Impact of Climate Change to Women Exacerbated by Gender Inequality: A Case Study of Lao Cai." KKU International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 9 (2): 118-47.

Authors: Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Phan Thanh Thanh

Abstract:

This paper is based on the results of a study conducted in Lao Cai to explore how climate change affects to women’s agricultural activities as well as how gender inequality strengthens the impacts. The method of this study is qualitative with data collected in three communes of Ban Qua, Quang Kim and Muong Vi in Bat Xat district with qualitative tools namely expert interviews, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion and quantitative tool namely survey. The finding of the research is that firstly, climate change can lead to vulnerable livelihoods. Moreover, the consequences of climate change are by no means gender-neutral. This is related to the second finding that traditional system of Vietnam is patriarchy and Confucianism in which women have to devote their time to family, have lower social status, have limited access to natural, financial and educational resources. The conclusion of the research is that women can be an effective agent of changes in climate change adaptation if they have more capitals such as finance, network and capabilities such as technical knowledge and sciences in agriculture. 

Keywords: gender inequality, women empowerment, climate change adaptation, food security, right to food

Topics: Economies, Poverty, Environment, Climate Change, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Rights, Security, Food Security Regions: Asia, Southeast Asia Countries: Vietnam

Year: 2019