Ethnic minority women confidently assert their role and position

Ms. Ban Thi Hom's tea factory has purchased all the fresh tea leaves from 10 households in Na Mau village, providing a stable income for these families.

Change perceptions

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

According to Hom, overcoming difficulties, she strived to attend university. Hom knew that education was the only way to rise above challenges, overcome gender stereotypes, and assert herself. With determination, after finishing high school, Hom continued her studies in Hanoi at the Youth Academy. During her four years in Hanoi, Hom worked part-time while studying to support herself.

Graduating with honors, Hom returned to her village and applied for a position as a youth union official. Not only was she exemplary and a leader in community activities, but she also pioneered economic development by borrowing capital to produce clean tea. Currently, her tea factory buys all the fresh tea leaves from 10 households in the village. Each 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 proudly won first prize with her idea "Shan Tuyet Tea - Continuing the Future". This idea also had the honor of reaching the semi-finals of the Women's Entrepreneurship with Local Resources competition in the Northern region.

Mùa Thị Mai (on the 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 out of 9 targets exceeding the set plan. As of May 2024, localities had established and operated 8,624 out of 9,000 community communication teams, communicating with 368,302 people; established and strengthened 1,809 out of 1,000 trusted addresses, providing support and advice to approximately 49,339 women and children, exceeding the target of phase 1; established and maintained 1,556 out of 1,800 "Leaders of Change" clubs, supporting 135 out of 500 livelihood groups, cooperatives, and associations in applying science and technology, achieving 27% of the target of phase 1…

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

Mai recounted that her hometown is in Moc Chau district, Son La province. Her family has nine siblings, and all of them married very early. Mai's older sisters were forced into marriages before even finishing junior high school. Their lives were very difficult; they had to shoulder all the responsibilities in the family but had no voice, and some were even victims of domestic violence. Mai's best friend was also a good student who dreamed of going to university, but after being forced into marriage, she had to drop out.

Unwilling to accept the unfair treatment she received from her sisters and friends, Mua Thi Mai was determined to overcome her circumstances and break through gender stereotypes. She successfully passed the entrance exam to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Currently, Mai is actively involved in social projects, contributing to reducing gender stereotypes and outdated customs among ethnic minority communities.

Creating conditions for women's holistic development.

The stories of Ban Thi Hom and Mua Thi Mai exemplify the efforts made in pursuing their dreams and aspirations. They have become exemplary ethnic minority women, strong and resilient, striving to overcome gender stereotypes and affirming their value through talent and knowledge, spreading positive spirit in the community, and gradually asserting their roles and positions in the family and society.

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

In particular, activities under Project 8, "Promoting Gender Equality and Addressing Urgent Issues of Women and Children," of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Regions giai đoạn 2021 – 2030, have helped ethnic minority women raise their awareness of gender stereotypes and biases. Many women have risen to confidently assert their roles in their families and society.

According to Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union: In implementing Project 8, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union has designed many support activities, built models, and promoted changes in mindset and practices, eliminating gender stereotypes and biases within families and communities… This contributes to the successful achievement of gender equality goals and effectively addresses some pressing issues for women and children in ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

Media campaigns raise awareness among ethnic minority women in Tánh Linh district, Bình Thuận province.

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