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 South Korea, the term “Kim Yeo-sa,” also known as “Madam Kim,” is often used to refer to women participating in traffic—particularly female drivers—as a way of implying that their driving skills are inferior or slower than those of men. Similarly, in Vietnam, a common joking remark when seeing women driving is “Don’t let women take the wheel.” Why is it that women encounter so many stereotypes and barriers in what should be considered an entirely ordinary activity?

[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”?

[VĂN HÓA LÀM ĐẸP THẬP NIÊN 2020: GIẢI PHÓNG HAY TÁI LẬP ÁP LỰC?]

Nếu trước đây. chuẩn mực cái đẹp thường được định hình để đáp ứng kỳ vọng của xã hội truyền thống, thì thập niên 2020 đã chứng kiến một cú tráo đổi khái niệm ngoạn mục. Dưới sự chi phối của thuật toán TikTok và AI, làm đẹp từ áp lực xã hội đã biến tướng thành “nghĩa vụ văn hóa” nhân danh việc yêu bản thân. Chúng ta rũ bỏ phấn son để tìm tự do, nhưng lại rơi vào xiềng xích của một “mặt mộc đạt chuẩn” — một dự án tối ưu hóa cơ thể không điểm dừng. Liệu đây là quyền tự chủ, hay chỉ là sự lệ thuộc tinh vi hơn vào những hóa đơn thẩm mỹ đắt đỏ?

[NỮ QUYỀN VÀ HÌNH PHẠT]