Ethnic minority women confidently assert their role and position

Ms. Ban Thi Hom's tea factory has purchased all fresh tea buds of 10 households in Na Mau village, bringing stable income to the households.

Changing Perception

Born and raised in a poor family in Na Mau village, Phuong Tien commune, Vi Xuyen district, Ha Giang province, Dao ethnic girl Ban Thi Hom, born in 1996, was forced by her parents to stay home and not go to school to get married.

According to Hom, overcoming difficulties, she made efforts to go to university. Because Hom knew that going to school was the only way to rise up, overcome all gender prejudice barriers, and assert herself. With determination, after finishing high school, Hom continued to go to Hanoi to study at the Youth Academy. During her 4 years in Hanoi, Hom studied and worked part-time to make ends meet.

Graduating with a good degree, Hom returned to apply for a position as a commune youth union officer. Not only was she a role model and a pioneer in movement activities, Hom also took the lead in economic development by borrowing capital to produce clean tea. Currently, Hom’s tea factory has purchased all fresh tea buds of 10 households in the village. Every year, after deducting expenses, her family earns hundreds of millions of dong in profit.

In 2023, Ban Thi Hom boldly participated in the Startup Competition organized by the Women's Union of Ha Giang province and was honored to win First Prize with the idea "Shan Tuyet Tea - Continuing the Future". This idea was also honored to enter the semi-finals of Women Startups with Indigenous Resources in the Northern region.

Mua Thi Mai (right) shares her story of overcoming gender stereotypes and prejudices.

Implementing Project 8, the Women's Union at all levels effectively implemented core targets, with 2/9 targets exceeding the set plan. As of May 2024, localities have established and operated 8,624/9,000 Community Communication Teams, communicating to 368,302 people; established and consolidated 1,809/1,000 Trusted Addresses, supporting and consulting about 49,339 women and children, exceeding the target of phase 1; established and maintained 1,556/1,800 "Leaders of Change" Clubs, supporting 135/500 livelihood groups, cooperatives, and cooperatives applying science and technology, reaching 27% of the target of phase 1...

As for Mua Thi Mai, a Mong ethnic minority student, a second-year student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University), she also overcame many barriers to pursue her dream of going to university.

Mai said that her hometown is Moc Chau district, Son La province. Her family has 9 siblings, all of whom got married very early. Mai's older sisters only finished junior high school when they were "wife-snatched". Mai's older sisters' lives were also very difficult, they had to take care of everything in the family but had no say, some were even victims of domestic violence. Mai's best friend was also a good student, had a dream of going to university, but after being "wife-snatched" she had to drop out of school.

Not accepting being treated unfairly like her sisters and friends, Mua Thi Mai was determined to overcome her circumstances, determined to overcome the barriers of gender prejudice, Mai tried her best to pass the entrance exam to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Currently, Mai is actively participating in social projects, contributing to reducing gender prejudices and inappropriate customs of ethnic minorities.

Creating conditions for women to develop comprehensively

The stories of Ban Thi Hom and Mua Thi Mai demonstrate their efforts in the journey to conquer their dreams and aspirations. They have become typical examples of strong ethnic minority women, striving to overcome gender stereotypes and affirm their values ​​through talent and knowledge, spreading positive spirit in the community, gradually affirming their role and position in the family and society.

Many ethnic minority women have strongly risen up, dared to think and act, contributing to changing gender stereotypes, affirming their roles and positions in the family and society.

In particular, with activities under Project 8 “Promoting gender equality and solving urgent issues of women and children”, the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period has helped ethnic minority women raise their awareness of gender prejudice and gender stereotypes. Many women have confidently asserted their role in their families and society.

Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Thu Hien said: Implementing Project 8, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union designed many support activities, built models, promoted and mobilized to change "thinking and working methods", eliminated prejudices and gender stereotypes in families and communities... Thereby, contributing to the successful implementation of gender equality goals and effectively solving a number of urgent issues for women and children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Communication to raise awareness for ethnic minority women in Tanh Linh district, Binh Thuan province

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/phu-nu-dtts-tu-tin-khang-dinh-vai-tro-vi-the-1730110861248.htm