ECONOMIC TRANSITION IN CHINA AND VIETNAM - CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE IS JUST THE FIRST STEP FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES

This paper compares the changing strategies of women and their familie s during the economic transition in China and Vietnam. Employment stra tegies to improve the family's well-being have resulted in increased r ural-urban migration by men and young women, while middle-aged, marrie d women remain in the countryside taking care of the farms and childre n. Although women have been able to take advantage of new opportunitie s for employment in nonstate firms and their own entrepreneurial endea vors, their employment strategies are limited by increasing discrimina tion in hiring and layoffs. Moreover, the policy problems play out wit hin the family in changing bargaining power, including decisions about education and health care.