Do women "consume" themselves when they write?

During the exchange and meeting between writer Camille Laurens, member of the Goncourt Academy, and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, many issues were raised when women write.

Writer Camille Laurens (left) and Dr. Le Ngoc Phuong during a meeting with students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: LINH DOAN

The meeting was themed "Women, Gender, and Literature ." It was part of a series of activities undertaken by author Camille Laurens during her visit to Vietnam, spanning from North to South.

Women writing about their personal lives is a valuable asset.

Dr. Ho Khanh Van, a lecturer in the Literature Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, raised the issue that research on women suggests that women "consume themselves" through autobiographical writing.

This means they used their personal lives as material for their writing. A prime example is M. Duras's novel , *The Lover* . From this, women themselves created the literary style known as the autobiographical novel.

Ms. Khanh Van studies foreign women's literature as well as Vietnamese women's literature and finds similarities.

That's when women writers often turn inward, exploring their inner world . And it seems this is a characteristic writing style of women.

Camille Laurens expressed that historically, women have had fewer opportunities to travel than men. They live and experience the world around them from a woman's perspective, filled with thoughts and feelings. According to her, women writing about their personal lives is a valuable asset; why should it be considered a smaller, less meaningful world than that of men?

As one of France's most renowned contemporary novelists, specializing in autofiction, her work consistently focuses on the relationship between literature and truth.

According to her, gender stereotypes prevent people from having a fair view and properly appreciating the value and significance of many activities undertaken by women. As a result, female writers still seem to struggle to have their creations and thoughts recognized as they truly are.

She is the daughter of Camille Laurens.

During the discussion, her work, "Daughter," was analyzed and examined once again. "Daughter" is a story about a girl from birth (1959) to 2012, when she is a middle-aged woman and the mother of a daughter.

Over 50 years is a poignant journey of maturation for women in a world rife with gender stereotypes.

The novel Daughter and Betrayal by author Camille Laurens - Photo: LINH DOAN

From the moment she was born, being a girl made her a disappointment to her parents. Her upbringing was filled with loneliness and trauma. People felt outraged when her tiny uncle brazenly groped her without anyone defending her, instead criticizing and belittling her.

Because of gender bias, even as a victim, you will still be blamed. It's also painful when a woman loses her child, but no one cares about her feelings; only the man's mood matters.

This is a novel that Dr. Le Ngoc Phuong admits she was completely captivated by while reading, due to its vivid storytelling, the author's use of different narrative perspectives, and the work's structure. It makes the reader feel as if they are stepping into the work, deeply experiencing the characters' pain.

Camille Laurens' latest novel , *The Betrayal*, has a detective-like feel to it, set against the backdrop of a love story between the author and a director. And yet, the haunting issue of gender stereotypes still lingers within it.

This means that even in today's seemingly civilized era, there are still deeply ingrained prejudices and stereotypes that make it very difficult for women to assert their self-worth.

Born in 1957, author Camille Laurens has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Famina, Renaudot des lycéens, Roman-News, and Grand prix RTL-Lire. Alongside her writing career, she has a deep connection to French literary life.

She is a member of the Femina Prize jury, a member of the Goncourt Academy, and has been teaching at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) since 2011. Her works have been translated into more than 30 languages, and in Vietnam, she has published the books In the Embrace (2009), Emotional Love Songs (2011), Daughter (2023), and Betrayal (2025).

Back to the topic

LINH DOAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phu-nu-khi-viet-van-tu-an-minh-20251024073348114.htm