The Role of Gender and Social-Political Power Relations in Disaster-Shaped Environments on the Transformation of Smallholder Farmer Livelihoods in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Abstract

<p>In recent decades, there has been a growing concern on climate change and its effects on marginalized populations, particularly in the agricultural sectors and agrarian societies of Vietnam. Prior research indicates that climate change is likely to negatively impact the thousands of Vietnamese livelihoods, particularly those who reside in disaster-prone locations such as floodplains and coastal zones and are poor or disadvantaged. Due to gendered duties, obligations, relationships, and limited entitlements, women are deemed to be particularly vulnerable. However, little study has been conducted on how gender and power dynamics influence the transformative adaptation of farming communities in the disaster-shaped environments of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). Using vulnerability adaptive capacity theory, and feminist political ecology theory, this study investigates the gender-transformative capacity of adaptation initiatives in the VMD in order to resolve these gaps. It is based on an embedded case study methodology and a mixed-methods research conducted in two villages in the VMD. I argue that local efforts regarding gendered relations and climate adaptation could provide a platform for political transformation at the national, regional, and global scale. Twenty-two male and female farmers from the two selected villages of VMD were invited to participate in the household survey. Between March and June 2024, field notes and twenty-five semi-structured interviews were carried out with the community representatives of Soc Trang and An Giang, including those from local government, experts, and local NGOs. In conclusion, this study reveals how gender and socio-political power relations enable us to comprehend the gendered roles and nature of transformational adaptation of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in the complex socio-ecological systems of VMD. It is further highlighted by presenting recommendations for future research, policy, and practice to incorporate transformational livelihood adaptation and gender justices into climate change mitigation and adaptation in the VMD and globally.</p>