REPORT
Education: The Gender-based challenges faced by girls in vietnam
Firstly,we would like to extend our appreciation to all the individuals who have provided assistance in the successful completion of this report. The report was collaboratively developed and completed by Saigon Children’s Charity CIO (saigonchildren), the Institute of Sustainable Development Management (MSD), and Cimigo Company, in conjunction with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
The survey scope included over 7,000 individuals participating and 30 in-depth interviews. This allowed researchers and experts to understand the real situation and needs of girls from various perspectives.
The quantitative survey was mainly conducted online, with 30 primary questions.
- The first target group, the general public, was selected to represent various areas, age groups, occupations, and incomes, with 398 individuals over 15 years old participating.
- The second target group comprised students from underprivileged backgrounds within the network that saigonchildren and MSD are assisting for educational purposes to examine the existence and influence of the aforementioned factors. The survey obtained 6,224 legitimate responses, with 59% of them coming from female participants.
For qualitative research section involved conducting in-depth interviews with 30 individuals from four distinct groups: ethnic Kinh students, parents, teachers, and ethnic minority students. Each group responded to distinct inquiries to provide a more comprehensive explanation of the obstacles faced in girls’ education.
KEY INSIGHTS
I. THE POPULARITY OF SOCIAL STANDARDS AND GENDER STEREOTYPES AMONG STUDENTS
-The survey findings suggest that students, regardless of gender, are well-acquainted with social norms and gender stereotypes-
"In my opinion, girls will have to be weak and fragile."
(Female, Secondary School Student, In-depth Interview)
"Boys, in my opinion, will be stronger, capable of higher study, and particularly succeed in subjects like sports and science"
(Female, High School Student, In-depth Interview)
Gender stereotypes, which are common in society and particularly among female students, can limit self-esteem and impair self-awareness.
II. UNconcisous BIASES
Social norms are passes down
Gender stereotypes such as men being the breadwinners in the family and women being gentle and meek are still widely held in contemporary society, according to research from student and public datasets.
Textbook and social norms
Upon surveying students regarding stereotypes in school, we discovered that textbooks frequently depict male characters in roles that demand physical strength or advanced technical abilities.
Teacher’s perception
Nine out of nine teachers who participated in in-depth interviews during the qualitative data collection process stated that male students are often considered excellent in “thinking” and “calculation” subjects. According to the survey, teachers usually unconsciously associate math and science excellence and ability with male students, leading to unfair favoritism in the classroom. This can make female students feel discouraged and less confident in these subjects.
III. Menstruation & related stereotypes
The Impact of Taboos surrounding menstruation
During in-depth interviews, female students reported that their parents often reinforce the belief that menstruation is a private, intimate matter and should be kept hidden from others, especially boys.
Period pain affects Health of Girls
Raising public awareness of the fact that menstruation is not dirty or embarrassing can help female students avoid feeling insecure or embarrassed in class.
IV. THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN AND PRIVATE TOILETS
