WOMEN AND CULTURE

[WIFE - ABDUCTING]

The phrase "bride kidnapping" is a cultural practice that may not be unfamiliar to us, as it frequently appears in works discussing traditional customs of remote ethnic groups. However, whether "bride kidnaping" is right or wrong is subjective.

[POLYGAMY]

Why did the tradition of polygamy cause women in the past to continuously live in abandonment, to live in a loveless world? Let's travel back in time with VFSA to see how polygamy had affected women at the time and why it was a great mistake.

[MATRIARCHY]

Matriarchy has imprinted the timeless image of Vietnamese women in human’s consciousness albeit many ups and downs in centuries. Perchance, these milestones are the precedence of literature works that honor women with deepest adoration?

[FEMINISM THROUGH CULTURAL LENS]

Feminism is not a rivalry with men, or a promotion of misandry, rather, it is letting women break free from the stereotypes that society and even themselves have associated women with.

[THE MAXIM OF “BLAME THE LIONESS FOR THE SPOILED CUB”]

The responsibilities of looking after and providing for the family are placed on the shoulders of every member in the family. Each and every family member’s sacrifice and dedication is needed in the process of building a healthy family

[BODILY AUTONOMY OF WOMEN]

Our strong girls, don’t hesitate! Stand up and fight for yourselves, because your body is yours, and proudly say: “MY BODY, MY CHOICE.”

[SELLING GASOLINE TO WOMEN IS A CRIME?]

In Korea, the term “Kim Yeo-sa” or “Madam Kim” is frequently used to refer to women being on the road, including female drivers to portray them as less skilled and slower than men. Similarly, in Vietnam, a common joke when seeing women drive may be, “Don’t let a woman take the wheel.” But why do women confront so many biases in something widely regarded as ordinary —driving?

[WOMEN AND ÁO DÀI - HONORING OR CONSTRAINING?]

Recently, the incident in Marie Curie High School (District 3, Hồ Chí Minh City) calculated training points based on gender in its áo dài synchronized performance has sparked controversy across social media. Specifically, according to the school’s announcement, the event was compulsory for all female students to take part in the performance; otherwise, 0.5 points would be deducted from their training point. However, for male students, contribution is voluntary and 0.5 points will be granted upon participation. This incident has raised a question: Is women’s wearing áo dài an act of honor or an act of coercion?

[FEMININITY, MASCULINITY — OR A NEW GENDER BIAS?]

Nowadays, besides continuing efforts to address gender inequality and gender prejudice, we are witnessing social media platforms being swamped with old, yet newly framed concepts: “femininity” and “masculinity”. At first glance, these terms may represent the archetypal characteristics between each gender. Yet, at a closer look, this reintroduction is not truly an advancement in gender awareness, but outdated prejudices in disguise.

[ARE WE LIVING IN A MISOGYNISTIC SOCIETY?]

On our path towards an era where women boldly assert their presence, would there still be words of disparagement waiting silently for the chance to strike and suppress our voice? Before anything, recognising the problem should be the foundation, the first step, for each of us – women who truly understand themselves – to break the invisible chains eager to strangle us at any time.

[THE CHANGE IN LANGUAGE FOR GENDER EQUALITY: FROM PREJUDICE TO PROGRESS]

Language has always been the most common tool of communication among humans. However, few people realize that beyond its function of communication and exchange, language also reflects our thinking and shapes our perception of reality. Over hundreds of years of existence and development, closely tied to the gender equality movement and the dismantling of gender stereotypes, language has gradually been adjusted to move toward greater social equity. Let’s explore this issue in more depth with VFSA!

[WHAT MAKES A LIFE WORTH LIVING FOR A WOMAN?]

In the past, women were imprisoned by the weight of social prejudice. However, now they are living in a more open society, stepping out of their “shell” to pursue their own paths and thrive. At first, it might sound good and inspiring, but do societies perceive that it is themselves who mock their own idea of gender equality by molding women into phrases such as “successful” and “independent”?