Leadership

Depending on whose statistics you read, about 25 to 30 percent of business leaders in Vietnam are women. This is higher than the average for Asia. One-fourth or one-third is not satisfactory, however. No concrete evidence suggests that Vietnamese women aren’t as ambitious as their male counterparts. But before moving on, take note that more than 50% of Asia’s corporations are in manufacturing, which is male-dominated. Unlike in more advanced economies, there aren’t many Asian women in this sector. More are employed in health care, finance, communication, education, real estate and other services. Despite societal strides, Vietnamese women still face challenges when they aspire to greater heights. These are the main reasons. Social Norms These directly affect people’s lives – what they believe in and how they behave. Yes, norms provide order and protect people from harm. But, these can also hinder growth. The Vietnamese people should evaluate their norms and change these for women to achieve their goals.   Housework Load Women are still held responsible for the bulk of tasks at home, including child-rearing. Men’s share of the workload is around 10% or less. Unsurprisingly, many Vietnamese women give up on their dreams as they don’t have enough time to pursue careers. They may pick up jobs that aren’t demanding but forego opportunities for advancement. Gender Bias There are many successful Vietnamese businesswomen, but stereotyping persists. The majority still believe that women should focus on support and caregiving. Despite laws that improve gender equality, most Vietnamese female entrepreneurs are in the small business or informal sectors. According to one study, it is more difficult for women than men to borrow money to start a business. Access to Continuing Education  Many women need more access to higher education and fewer undergo job training. Opportunities are generic at best and need more flexibility for women who care for families. Also, educational programs should focus on increasing digital literacy in today’s environment. Women Make a Difference Advanced economies prove that women leaders contribute to the profitability of an organization. There are enough studies that show more women in business leadership positions are beneficial to organizations and employees. Today, there aren’t enough of them in entrepreneurial roles. Addressing the problems above may help more women participate and add value to society.  Vietnam supports providing more opportunities, but there is still much to do. For instance, laws allow long maternity leaves. These fall short, though, if businesses don’t provide adequate child-care services.