Social Science and Human Research Bulletin

Women’s decision-making power is an important indicator that reflects gender equality in the family and in the society. Awareness on decision-making power plays a vital role in promoting decision-making power in the household. This paper focuses on the awareness of women’s decision-making power in the household based on the results of the research “Women’s decision-making power in performing family’s function today” conducted by a research group from the Vietnam Women’s Academy. Data were collected in 7 provinces/cities[1], representing 7 socio - economic regions of Vietnam with a quantitative sample size of 2,030 participants and a qualitative sample size of 140 participants. The awareness of women’s decision-making power in the family was evaluated on different aspects: awareness of self - determination, awareness of bargaining power; awareness of production, reproduction, and external decision-making power. The results showed that husbands’ and wives’ perceptions of decision-making power in the families was generally equal. Many people supported husbands’ and wives’ self-determination in building a harmonious relationship. With regards to joint activities, awareness on external affairs was relatively equal between wives and husbands. However, people’s awareness on reproductive function was unequal and affected by gender perceptions. This paper also provides recommendations to raise people’s awareness on women’s decision-making power in the household to promote gender equality.

Awareness, decision-making power, women, family, gender equality.

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