Unpaid Care Burden and Gender Inequality in Vietnam: A Review Analysis

Abstract

Unpaid caregiving is a crucial aspect of gender inequality that needs to be addressed within the overall national strategy. In Vietnam today, women remain the primary workforce responsible for unpaid caregiving, but their contribution has not been adequately recognized. As women increasingly participate in paid employment, the unpaid care burden is not shared by men and the public service system, leaving women under significant pressure and disadvantage. This article aims to identify the reality of the unpaid care burden in Vietnam, its contributing factors, and its consequences for women. The study utilizes a literature review method with a systematic and purposeful search, screening, and selection process. Sixty-eight documents were included in the analysis and citations out of an initial 145 documents searched from reputable sources. Gender inequality stemming from the burden of unpaid caregiving on women is not only reflected in the fact that they have to dedicate more time to this work than men, but also in a series of consequences related to educational opportunities, employment, income, career advancement, and self-care. This burden is maintained and reinforced by persistent traditional gender norms, inadequate national policies, and a lack of public services commensurate with societal development. The vulnerability of gendered unpaid caregiving is further highlighted in the context of increasing contemporary social issues such as population aging, labor migration, disease outbreaks, and climate change. Therefore, unpaid caregiving is no longer a private matter for women or a family issue; it is a structural and public policy issue. The research findings provide a basis for policies aimed at redistributing care work and highlight the need for investment in care infrastructure, social services, and gender equality in Vietnam.