Vietnamese Women’s Agency in Economic Development: An Amartya Sen Perspective

Abstract

This article analyzes the agency of Vietnamese women in economic development through Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach. Based on a comparison between theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical data from the 2024–2025 period, this article argues that women are not merely passive policy recipients but active agents playing a pivotal role in the labor force and financial resource management. Furthermore, this article indicates that expanding capabilities, agency space, and substantive freedom is a prerequisite for eliminating barriers such as the gender pay gap and gender prejudice. Consequently, this article proposes policy implications to maximize women's potential in Vietnam's sustainable socio-economic development process.