The Paradox of Women’s Roles

An Thien Do Nguyen

In many years, Vietnamese history reveals a paradox concerning women’s roles. It honors great female fighters on the one hand. On the other, traditional restrictions on women’s roles in society remain prevalent.

Trung Trac and Trung Nhi initiated the earliest uprising against the Chinese in 43 AD. Ba Trieu revolted against the Chinese when she was so young, aged 19. They were not forgotten but remembered as heroes who shaped the identity of Vietnam. But since then, as we remember such leaders, Confucian philosophy allocated men higher status in families and societies. Even today, men prefer to exert more authority in public life, and some even speak on the behalf of their wives. These attitudes construct unseen walls for women, resulting in the stereotype people have set until today.

Alongside this, Vietnamese women were always hardworking and skilled. They have been mothers, wives, workers, farmers, and soldiers. Yet, their entire contribution was not always valued. In patriarchal households, their word was precious for survival, especially during war and turmoil. Still, men generally took up public roles and women stayed at home with domestic labor. Now there is an attempt to promote equality and change past points of view. Society will never reach its potential until women can contribute fully. The heroines of the past fought not just for women, but for all Vietnamese.

The future depends on giving women a fair chance to become leaders and succeed. Then, and then only, will Vietnam ever get to live up to its heritage and be equal.