Cham women play a matriarchal role.

Tuan Tu village currently has 550 households with 2,365 Cham people. The villagers enjoy a prosperous life thanks to cultivating 65 hectares of green asparagus and 65 hectares of rice paddies, with two harvests per year, combined with livestock farming. Only 5 households in Tuan Tu village remain poor, accounting for 0.91% of the total households.

This achievement is largely thanks to the significant contributions of the "guide," Party Branch Secretary and respected figure Kieu Thi Khue. The Cham people of Tuan Tu village are very proud that, for the first time, a female leader from their village, representing Cham women in Ninh Thuan province, had the honor of attending the second "Support for the Village" program in the capital in 2024 and was awarded the Certificate of "Outstanding Respected Figure in Border and Island Areas."

Sharing her thoughts on the traditional matriarchal role of Cham women, Ms. Kieu Thi Khue said: "Since ancient times, Cham women have always been at the forefront, making important decisions within the family and clan."

When Cham women participate in social work, they must have the consent and support of their husbands and children. This ensures a harmonious balance between the roles of wife to husband, mother to children, and grandmother to grandchildren. At the same time, they wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to village affairs out of love for their homeland, wishing to contribute their efforts to the prosperous and beautiful development of the Cham village.”

"Golden Hands"

In the two famous traditional Cham craft villages of My Nghiep brocade weaving village and Bau Truc pottery village in Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Cham women are the main workforce preserving and developing the crafts.

On November 29, 2022, the Cham pottery art was inscribed by UNESCO on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. To preserve, safeguard, and pass on the Cham pottery-making techniques through generations, the women of Bau Truc pottery village play a crucial role.

Artisan Dang Thi Hoa preserves and passes on the techniques of Cham pottery making.

We visited the pottery workshop of artisan Dang Thi Hoa, known for her "golden hands," in the middle of Bau Truc village. She is the youngest daughter of a family with a long tradition of pottery making passed down from mother to daughter. According to Cham custom, Ms. Hoa lives in the ancestral house built by her parents on a 500m2 plot of land.

As the youngest daughter, Ms. Hoa takes care of ancestor worship according to the family's customs. Thanks to her pottery making, Ms. Hoa earns an average income of over 10 million VND per month; in months with many orders, she earns up to 20 million VND. All four of Ms. Hoa's daughters have been taught the Cham pottery making craft, preserving the family's traditional culture.

Dang Thi Hoa's husband, Dang Nang Nghiem, shared: "The matriarchal system has existed for a long time in Cham society. Since being born in Bau Truc village, I have seen my grandmother and mother play extremely important roles in the family and clan. I am a companion and a strong assistant to my wife in pottery making, while important matters in family life, although discussed and agreed upon by both of us, ultimately rest with my wife."

Cham women play a "matriarchal" role in teaching and preserving the traditional brocade weaving craft of My Nghiep village.

Today, many Cham women are highly educated, holding master's and doctoral degrees, and actively participating in social work. Among them are many key officials in Party, government, mass organizations, education , healthcare, and businesses.

According to data from the Ninh Thuan Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, the province currently has 745 female Cham Party members. These female Party members have effectively played a pioneering and exemplary role, actively participating in building a prosperous socio -economic environment for the Cham community. Examples include Ms. Dang Thi My Huong, Deputy Head of the Ninh Thuan Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Ms. La Thoai Nhu Trang, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Council; Ms. Chau Thi Xeo, Director of the Chau Re General Agricultural Service Cooperative; Ms. Che Kim Trung, Master of Science and artist, teacher at the Phan Rang General Technical and Vocational Training Center; and Ms. Kieu Mai Ly, poet and cultural researcher...

Thai Son Ngoc (Ethnic Groups and Development Newspaper)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/phu-nu-cham-phat-huy-vai-role-mau-he-221862.htm