The arduous life of women who split stones.

Stone splitting is a strenuous and physically demanding job, often reserved for men. However, many women have chosen to stick with this profession for decades to make a living…

Pink heels treading on stones

In September, the midday sun of Hon Soc, Hon Dat commune, blazes fiercely, yet the stonecutters continue toiling, chiseling and carving amidst the whirring of cutting machines and the clanging of sledgehammers. Among them are many women, their hands firmly gripping the stone, hammers, and wedges, working just as vigorously as their male counterparts.

In a corner, under a dark, dusty rubber shack, Ms. Thi Hong held a steel wedge in one hand, inserting it into a groove in the rock her husband had just cut, while with the other hand she quickly used a sledgehammer to forcefully split the rock. After a long, arduous task, the stone pillar was finally formed into a solid block, her face drenched in sweat. Then she hurried to the water container and gulped down a large glass, looking no different from the other workers. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she said cheerfully, "It's been so hot today, splitting the rock has been quite hard for us. We're trying our best to earn money to support the kids, my dear!"

A woman working as a stone splitter on Hon Soc Island. Photo: PHAM HIEU

When a stranger asked why she didn't take a lunch break, she explained that this job doesn't have fixed days or hours; workers are paid per piece. If they're tired, they rest and then continue working. Therefore, many stone splitters take advantage of lunchtime to continue working so they can split more stone pillars, which means they earn more money. "If we had farmland, no one would want to do this job. It's hard work and easily leads to chronic diseases due to the dust and noise. But having said that, because we don't have the means, my husband and I have to work harder splitting stones. On average, we earn around 400,000 VND per day, and with careful spending, we can still provide for our children's education," Ms. Hong said.

Hong was born in 1992 and is originally from Chau Thanh commune. When she was younger, during rice planting season, she would go to her aunt's house in Hon Soc to help with the rice planting. Every time she passed by the rocky area, she was impressed by the strong, gentle appearance of the stone splitter (Thanh – her current husband). Thanh, in turn, was fond of the diligent, hardworking, and kind girl. Gradually, they fell in love and got married. "That's why many people who know our story still talk about our love story by the rocky area. It's been over a decade, and for that same amount of time, I've been working as a stone splitter with my husband," Hong confided.

Raising children to receive a proper education.

Sitting next to Ms. Hong was Ms. Nguyen Thi Cam Binh (41 years old), originally from Thoai Son commune. She was small in stature, with calloused hands and old wounds. Ms. Binh recounted: “After more than 10 years of working with my husband splitting stones in Sap Mountain, the stones became scarce, so we moved to Hon Soc and have been working there for over 5 years. This job is extremely hard. When I first started, my hands were blistered and my back ached. Many times I felt discouraged and wanted to quit, but thinking about my children who are still in school, I had to persevere. Eventually, I got used to it, and this stone-splitting job is now supporting the whole family.”

Then she went on to give examples of a few "colleagues," such as Mrs. Tu Nguyet and her husband, and Mrs. Hang and her husband, who also work as stone splitters and have managed to support their children's education, with some of their children even having recently been accepted into university. "It's really hard work, but thanks to splitting stones, the kids can get a proper education. I also hope my eldest child will pass the university entrance exam next year. Even though it's harder, I think it's worth it," Mrs. Binh said.

Sitting under a rubber mat in the scorching sun, listening to the stories of the hardships and struggles of the stone-splitting profession endured by these women, one is filled with admiration. Throughout their stories, there is not a hint of regret in their eyes. On the contrary, there is unwavering determination and a genuine work ethic to realize their simple dream of earning enough money to support their children's education and escape the "stone-splitting life." For that, they are willing to sacrifice their health and youth to secure a better future for their children…

At this point, I suddenly remembered when I first entered the construction site and asked some of the men about the women who worked splitting stones. They said, "Why bother looking for those women? They're as tough as rocks," and then they chuckled. It's true, women who split stones are indeed "tough." But "tough" here refers to resilience, determination, sacrifice, and silent endurance to provide a better life for their families and children. Perhaps it is this very resilience that creates a unique beauty in these women working at the Hon Soc stone quarry.

While I was still lost in thought, the women "asked permission" to return to work. Because lunchtime at the quarries is no longer a time for rest and relaxation, but a time for earning money. Therefore, stonecutters must seize every minute and hour to complete as many products as possible, earning extra income to support their small families. As I said goodbye to them, many stories about the lives of these stonecutters still lingered in my mind. Somewhere, I heard about the lives of those "three no's": no insurance, no personal protective equipment, and no stable life. But perhaps, for these women in this profession, besides those "three no's," they also forget many other things: forgetting makeup, forgetting March 8th, October 20th, and sometimes even their own birthdays.

Our vehicle sped past rocky areas shrouded in dust. The sounds of the cutting machines and sledgehammers gradually faded and then fell silent behind us, but there, the women splitting rocks, like Ms. Hong and Ms. Binh, continued to work diligently and tirelessly to find a brighter future for the next generation.

PHAM HIEU

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhoc-nhan-doi-phu-nu-che-da-a460793.html