Labour Division and the Exposure to Air Pollution of Men and Women Working in the Craft Villages

Tóm tắt

Craft villages in Vietnam have created employment, making an important contribution to the economic development in rural areas. However, workers in craft villages face many risks arising from working in polluted environments, including air pollution. This article, based on qualitative data collected in some craft villages in Hanoi, reflects the exposure to air pollution associated with the labour division of men and women in craft villages, and its influences on the world of work of men and women. It is found that men often do more strenuous work and they are directly exposed to harmful emissions more than women. Nevertheless, women spend more time at craft production sites due to their less mobility compared to men, hence, the time that women are exposed to air pollution in the workplace appears to be more than that of men. Women also report more health problems relating to polluted air at the workplace. However, incomes of women in craft production facilities are lower than men's because the payment is usually based on the heavy nature of the work with little consideration of air pollution risks.