From the "kitchen" to the world!

Vietnamese women in the 21st century have undergone many changes in their functions, positions, and roles within the family and society.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8th, let us reflect on the role of Vietnamese women in the family, society, and on the international stage, and answer the question: where does the strength of Vietnamese women come from to fulfill all these missions?

Female fighters in a self-defense militia unit in North Vietnam in 1967. (Source: TASS/GettyImages)

In the eyes of men and in the perspective of traditional society, Vietnamese women seem to be confined to the "kitchen," wearing aprons and busily caring for their husbands and children. This is understandable, because culturally, Vietnam is one of the countries influenced by Chinese culture, especially Confucianism. In Confucian thought, women always adhere to strict moral standards, with the Three Obediences and Four Virtues considered paramount. The image of Vietnamese mothers and grandmothers toiling under the sun and rain, caring for their husbands and ensuring their children's success, is a common one.

A woman's happiness is the happiness of her husband and children. A woman's joy is also the joy of her husband and children. A woman's happiness or suffering depends on choosing the right husband. If she is "lucky" enough to marry a good husband, she is blessed; if she is "unlucky" enough to marry a "worthless" man, her life is essentially over, and she will live in misery for the rest of her life. A woman's world revolves around her home and family. We still hear mothers telling their children, "You are everything to me," and wives telling their husbands, "You and our children are everything to me"... A woman's boundaries are her husband, children, and family.

Looking back at Vietnam's history of nation-building and national defense, we see another side of women. We are proud, but also saddened, to see Vietnamese women having to shoulder the great responsibilities of the country at a young age: fighting invaders, defending the nation, supporting the army, and waiting for their husbands to return. Many did not live to see their husbands and sons die, and they had to single-handedly shoulder the responsibilities of both mother and father in the family, while also fulfilling their responsibilities to society – labor and production.

Thus, Vietnamese women have never been confined to the "kitchen." We have great Vietnamese mothers in legends like Mother Au Co and Saint Giong; we also have female heroes who struck fear into the hearts of the enemy like the Trung Sisters, Lady Trieu, Le Chan, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, and Sister Ba Dinh...; we have intelligent women with open hearts who could change the course of our nation's history like Empress Dowager Duong Van Nga and Consort Y Lan...; we also have intelligent and sharp-witted women who earned the admiration of the world like Nguyen Thi Binh... Therefore, contrary to the notion that traditional Vietnamese women are confined to the family, only focusing on their own happiness.

The prestigious titles currently bestowed upon women, such as "Three Responsibilities" and "Excellent in Public Service and Excellent in Domestic Affairs," still trouble us because we wonder how women can excel at all these tasks? A woman has 24 hours in a day, and at the office, she still has to handle all her work. Certainly, no organization will "sympathize" with an employee failing to complete her duties simply because she is a woman.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phu-nu-viet-nam-tu-nha-bep-ra-the-gioi-306853.html