TTLA: Gender stereotypes about the personality of female farmers in the Red River Delta region.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Nguyen Thi Thinh            

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: September 16, 1981

4. Place of birth: Ninh Binh

5. Decision No. 3076/QD-SDH dated October 28, 2009, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the doctoral student.

6. Changes in the training process: The thesis title was adjusted according to Decision No. 355/QD-SDH dated March 20, 2012, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Thesis title:Gender stereotypes regarding the personality of female farmers in the Red River Delta region.

8. Major: Social Psychology Code: Pilot Training Major

9. Scientific supervisor:Prof. Dr. Vu Dung

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

Over the years, several studies have been conducted in our country on gender stereotypes against women, but research on gender stereotypes regarding the personality of peasant women is still very limited; in fact, this is one of the first studies on this issue. The research results of this thesis contribute to supplementing some theoretical issues on social stereotypes in general and gender stereotypes against women in particular in social psychology in Vietnam today.

Based on the research findings on the current state of gender stereotypes regarding the personality of peasant women in the Red River Delta, this thesis reveals that gender stereotypes persist in relation to women's abilities. These stereotypes are evident at both the community and family levels. In particular, gender stereotypes are more manifested in behavior than in cognitive or emotional aspects. This shows that while people are aware of the limitations and negative aspects of gender stereotypes, and understand the need to reduce or eliminate them, they continue to exhibit them in their behavior. The significance of this research is that reducing or eliminating gender stereotypes requires a synchronized approach from the community level to the family level. Awareness and behavior regarding gender stereotypes must be aligned, especially focusing on limiting gender-biased behavior in rural areas, primarily among men.

The research findings of this thesis have shown that many factors influence gender stereotypes against women in rural areas, including the patriarchal ideology of Confucianism. This indicates that one of the most significant factors contributing to gender stereotypes is traditional culture, specifically Confucianism, which has existed in our country for hundreds of years. This ideology is deeply ingrained in people's subconscious and is not easily eradicated. Therefore, eliminating gender stereotypes is a long-term task that needs to be carried out comprehensively.

Another fundamental factor contributing to gender stereotypes against female farmers is the issue of self-prejudice. In other words, female farmers still lack self-confidence and feel inferior in expressing their abilities within the family and the community. This shows that, in order to eliminate gender stereotypes and achieve gender equality, women themselves must first overcome their self-prejudice and be confident in their work at home and in their community activities.

11. Practical applications:

The research findings of this thesis can serve as teaching material for the Social Psychology major at universities and colleges in our country today.

The research findings also serve as useful documentation for rural organizations, especially women's associations, to implement measures to achieve gender equality from the family level to the community, unleashing the immense potential of rural women in developing family economies, educating their children, and developing the local economy.

12. Future research directions:

This study examines gender stereotypes against women who are managers and leaders in rural organizations and assesses gender stereotypes across different regions.

13. Published works related to the dissertation:

1. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2013), “Some gender-biased conceptions about the personality and abilities of women in Vietnamese folk songs and proverbs”,Journal of Psychology(10), pp. 92-99

2. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2014), “The ideology of valuing men over women through some conceptions of status and educational content for women in feudal times”,Journal of Social Psychology(1), pp. 80-86

3. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2014), “Ideas of fighting against gender stereotypes against women expressed in Vietnamese folk songs, proverbs and idioms”,Journal of Social Psychology(4), pp.104 – 111

4. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2015), “Gender stereotypes about the personality of female farmers in rural areas of the Red River Delta as reflected in their perceptions”,Journal of Social Psychology(7), pp.15 – 23

5. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2015), “Gender stereotypes about the personality of female farmers as expressed through behavior” (Rural area survey in the Red River Delta),Journal of Social Psychology(9), pp. 83-92

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Thinh 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: September, 16^th, 1981 4. Place of birth: Ninh Binh

5. Admission decision number: 3076/QD–SDH, dated October 28, 2009, University of Social Sciences & Humanities, Vietnam National University.

6. Changes in academic process: Changing the thesis's name according to the decision number: 355/QD – SDH, dated March 20, 2012, University of Social Sciences & Humanities, Vietnam National University.

7. Official thesis title: “Gender bias against traits of rural women in the Red river delta”

8. Major: Social psychology Code: Pilot training major

9. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Vu Dung

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

In recent years there have been many studies on prejudice against women, yet studies on prejudice against rural women's traits remain few. This thesis contributes to social psychological theories on social bias and gender bias to women.

The empirical study conducted in this thesis shows that bias against women's traits exists both among family members and community members. Gender prejudice was more evident in behavioral aspects than in cognitive and emotional aspects. This finding implies that although people were aware of the existence of gender bias and its limitations and expressed negative emotions to it, they still carried out prejudicial behaviors towards rural women. As a result, it requires a thorough program to eliminate bias, from the family to society, from cognition to behavior. The focus should be on rural people, especially rural males.

The thesis also studied predictors of prejudice against rural women. Confucian patriarchal ideology was one of the strongest predictors of prejudice. Another factor was women's self-prejudice. Rural women were unconfident in expressing their abilities in the family as well as in the society. As a result, women need to eliminate self-prejudice before thinking about eliminating social prejudice against themselves.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

The findings of the thesis contribute to theories of gender discrimination against women in Vietnam. It could be used as supplementary teaching materials in universities and colleges in Vietnam.

The results also contribute to the effective implementation of gender equality policies in our country; helping rural women to understand the causes of gender bias to themselves, and providing them with better solutions to this issue.

12. Further research directions, if any:

Future research could examine and compare gender bias against women of different occupations and social classes.

13. Thesis - related publications:

1. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2013), “Some gender-based biased verses notions of women's characters and abilities is expressed in Vietnamese proverbs and folk folk”,Journal of Hematology(10), pp.92-99

2. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2014), “Sexism in feudalist notions of women's position and education”,Journal of Social Psychology(1), pp.80-86

3. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2014), “Ideologies against gender discrimination in Vietnamese idioms”,Journal of Social Psychology(4), pp.104 – 111

4. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2015), “Gender prejudice about rural women's characters in Red river Delta is expressed cognition aspect”,Journal of Social Psychology(7), pp.15 – 23

5. Nguyen Thi Thinh (2015), “Gender prejudice about rural women's characters in Red river Delta is expressed by behavior aspect”,Journal of Social Psychology(9), pp.83 – 92