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 \u201cshell\u201d 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 \u201csuccessful\u201d and \u201cindependent\u201d?
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The development of a progressive society not only brings a breath of fresh air to the economy but also sparks waves of modern perspectives that make women brave enough to find their voice and step out of their family to grow and affirm themselves in a world that used to value men's dominance over anything else. This regime has lasted for centuries, and until now, it\u2019s still an invisible cage imprisoning women, particularly in regions where livelihoods are still a luxury. However, it is undeniable that women have been stronger, more independent, and have become a symbol of the new era, of the dreams long-nurtured behind society\u2019s irrational walls over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, once the light of progression illuminates one side for too long, darkened corners get overlooked. A new prejudice quietly creeps up, claiming that women are only valuable if they can earn money. Those who choose to stay home and care for their families are often labelled as passive, dependent, or old-fashioned. Choosing to be a housewife should be a woman\u2019s right, yet today it is often denied and regarded as a sign of failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, what truly defines a woman's worth? Is it when she devotes herself to caring for her family, or must she dedicate all her time to building economic resources?
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WHAT MAKES A WOMAN\u2019S LIFE MEANINGFUL?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what is a meaningful life? A journey is only worthwhile if it carries value, and so is life. These values don\u2019t come from superficial aspects like success or wealth, but from feelings and experiences. The meaning of life is something we can never confine within a certain definition, so there is no precise interpretation of what \u201cworth living\u201d is. That is to say, life\u2019s value would rely on how we see it and not social stereotypes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If that is the case, then why do women have to fight for their lives\u2019 values, something everyone should have full control of? To clarify, let\u2019s go back in history, to the First Agricultural Revolution when men\u2019s role was accentuated mainly due to their physical prowess, making men responsible for most physical labour. A byproduct of the First Agricultural Revolution, private property ownership, eventually caused the downfall of matriarchy. Men had the right to decide almost every aspect of family; their role was elevated due to the prevailing social belief that only men were capable of earning money and providing for the family, and only they could be a leader of a group or a community. On the other hand, women were expected to be gentle and graceful, and to take the role of a supportive wife, maintaining the harmony of the family. Overall, each gender held a unique role in nurturing home life, yet why were women treated with such disrespect? In 1070, Vietnam officially adopted Confucianism from China, which came with male chauvinism. Confucianism built a patriarchal society where gender roles were rigidly defined; men were deemed the powerhouse of the family and government. As a result, all powerful and prestigious positions of a country, such as officials and kings, were exclusively held by men. On the other hand, women virtually held no power or status, neither seen as equals nor deemed \u201cworthy\u201d of being compared to men. They became secondary in importance: expected to obey, worship, and serve the men in their families. Women were barred from education, the imperial examinations, and any significant roles in society, but were expected to \u201conly\u201d manage the household. Because of these ideas, society ignored the souls and sacrifices of women; in other words, they were taken for granted. Although their role in the family is crucial, people have a tendency to normalize that and label them as weak, passive, and a burden. But now, the love and care that women used to give freely have become a standard to measure their value. Women are forced to live in humility, obedience, and submission, and have to please everybody, especially men. They have to follow strict gender roles set by society, seen as the weaker sex, and to follow the Three Obediences: \u201cObey the father before the marriage, obey the husband after marriage, and obey the first son after the death of the husband\u201d. Only by living this way are they seen as respectable, or even worthy of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the end, that \u201chigh-value life\u201d is based merely on shallow values and social standards. Deep down, how many of them could truly find happiness and fulfilment when they\u2019re imprisoning themselves with that invisible cage? Women never stop fighting, hoping for a brighter future, defining themselves as well as believing in a world where they are respected. And finally, their time has come: as society grew more civilised and progressive, women have now been able to freely express themselves. They can choose what life they want, what they want to do, and above all, women are no longer restricted by men. In the end, the last question is whether this freedom is truly set in stone, or merely the calm before the storm? WOMEN ARE FORCED TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO ACHIEVE THE LIFE THEY DESIRE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with modern society come feminist movements that fight for equality, freedom, and civilisation. Thanks to these strong efforts, today\u2019s women have slowly won back their basic human rights, escaped old social rules, and started living proud, full lives\u2014not lives limited by traditional gender roles. But do we truly understand what feminism really means or are we twisting it into a trend where women want to \u201clive like men\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rampant misinformation on social media has become a big barrier to raising public awareness about gender equality. It distorts the meaning of feminism, leading to extreme behaviors and strong social prejudice. One clear example is toxic feminism, where women try to act more \u201cmen-like\u201d, and society supports this idea. Many believe that becoming strong, independent, rich, and successful means they are modern and keeping up with the times. But in fact, when women try to follow the image of a \u201cmodern woman\u201d based on standards made for men, they are accidentally saying those standards are correct\u2014that they define a person\u2019s value. This way of thinking doesn\u2019t break down the patriarchy; instead, it makes it stronger, just hidden under the name of feminism. Real gender equality is not about women acting like men, but about giving everyone the right to choose who they want to be and being respected for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Women\u2019s burden is shifting from family responsibilities to the pressure of financial independence. Society expects women to excel as wives, mothers, and financially independent professionals all at the same time. Under the pressure of these unreal expectations, many women lose touch with their true selves, trapped by invisible chains of prejudice that they cannot escape. In such a world, women are compelled to make painful trade-offs in pursuit of a meaningful life: either conforming to societal standards for praise and recognition, or staying true to themselves and being despised, criticized by society.\u00a0 MUST WOMEN \u201cHAVE IT ALL\u201d TO BE ACCEPTED AND LOVED?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In modern society, women are often subjected to an unspoken set of rules, a \u201cpath to success\u201d that quietly imprison them in a vicious cycle of pressure. The so-called ideal woman, according to common stereotypes, is expected to embody a flawless blend of qualities: excelling in public life, managing household duties, maintaining physical beauty, and fulfilling her maternal role. Though often highly respected, this expectation is, in reality, a suffocating mold that forces women into a relentless race to \u201chave it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But is this standard really realistic, or just a vague illusion created by society that leaves many women tired from trying to please everyone? It can be said that women feel pressured from the very start of life. When they are young, people keep asking, \u201cWhen will you get married?\u201d, as if marriage is a mandatory task with a deadline. After marriage, the question becomes, \u201cWhen will you have children?\u201d and later, \u201cAre you raising your children well?\u201d At every stage of life, women face new expectations and rules. Every step, every choice, and every moment seems to be judged\u2014not based on what makes them happy, but on what others think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This phenomenon is not limited to everyday life. In popular culture, women are often portrayed as idealized figures who \u201cdo it all.\u201d Take, for example, the character Miranda Priestly in the iconic film The Devil Wears Prada\u2014a symbol of ultimate career success. Yet beneath her commanding exterior lies a portrait of loneliness, a broken family, and a hollow personal life. Her story exemplifies the heavy cost women pay when society demands that they \u201chave it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In reality, demanding that a woman be perfect on all fronts at the same time is an unrealistic\u2014if not cruel\u2014standard. This is because the idea of being \u201ceverything\u201d is nothing more than an illusion: no one can excel simultaneously in every role without making compromises, sacrifices, or even losing a part of themselves along the way. Love and compassion are intrinsic values that should be granted to individuals for who they truly are, not for an idealized version of perfection constructed to satisfy societal expectations.\n\nA woman who chooses to prioritize her career, devote herself fully to homemaking, pursue personal passions, or even decide not to marry or have children\u2014all are equally deserving of love and respect. Her worth does not lie in how well she conforms to prescribed roles, but in her humanity, autonomy, and right to define her own life. NO CIVILIZATION THRIVES WITHOUT HONORING WOMEN\u2019S CHOICES.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A society truly progresses only when every choice made by a woman is received with understanding rather than prejudice or judgment. It is only when a woman can freely pursue her own path, whether ascending to career heights or finding contentment in a simple life undisturbed by whispers of gossip, that we genuinely uphold human values. Inspiring real-world stories underscore this truth. Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, made headlines by both leading her nation and giving birth during her tenure. Yet, her widespread adoration stemmed not merely from her ability to \u201cbalance\u201d career and family, but from her audacity to live authentically up to her own decision making, directly confronting societal prejudices, all the while maintaining profound humanity in her governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A woman needs not strive to please everyone around her or labor to prove her worth to deserve love and respect. We simply cannot impose unreasonable standards of perfection upon them or expect them to embody everything. After all, true freedom and self-pride are the ultimate goals of genuine love and recognition. A thriving civilization is one that respects women\u2019s decisions. A woman could choose to be a housewife, a leader, an artist, an entrepreneur, or even choose a path of non-action, and regardless of her choice, she deserves to be embraced with understanding eyes, not scrutinized by the \u201ceyes\u201d of prejudice. In a truly civilized society, women should have the unfettered right to choose and shape their own happiness, the right to choose their own path without being judged. Freedom from the condemnatory gaze of others is the true foundation for a progressive society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it is anything but trivial for a woman to start living as her true self. Not only do they have to stand up to societal prejudices, they also have to face conflicts within themselves. On one hand, they desire to be free, to be able to follow their own calling. On the other hand, they face the pressure to meet the expectations of their family, community, or even the expectations they have built themselves to feel \u201cvaluable enough\u201d to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how can one possibly reconcile the desire to be oneself with the need to become a valuable individual in the eyes of society? How can a woman be both confident in her choices and not feel out of place in the community? The answer cannot come easily, because it requires a process of identifying, dismantling, and rebuilding the very inner values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, it must be acknowledged that each person holds their own definition of happiness and success. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. A woman who chooses to live modestly, dedicating time to herself and her family, is no less than one who conquers career pinnacles. A person who chooses to live alone, traveling, and pursuing their passions, is nothing \u201cunusual\u201d that needs justification. Every life, as long as it is lived with conscious choice and self-love, is equally complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, society needs to learn to respect differences. Not every woman needs to get married before 30. Not every woman needs to bear children to be considered \u201ccomplete\u201d. Not every woman needs to maintain a perfect body figure or pursue any images of an \u201cideal woman\u201d. Respecting women means respecting their freedom to choose their own lives \u2013 even if those choices defy the general norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, every woman also needs to learn to love herself without needing external validation. She needs to learn to value herself based on what she truly believes in, rather than on the applause or admiring glances of others. A person\u2019s worth, ultimately, is not based on how many people they \u201cmanage to please\u201d but on how true they are to themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The journey for women to be themselves and feel worthy is undeniably challenging, yet it is one full of pride and meaning. A truly progressive society is a place where every woman, regardless of which path she chooses, can confidently walk with her head held high, unafraid of the judging gaze of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A woman who chooses to work outside of her home is strong. A woman who chooses to stay home and be a housewife is also strong, albeit differently. A diverse world that is vibrantly colored cannot exist if all the women live in monotone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, amidst the currents of modern feminism, we have at times lost sight of this crucial truth. When society began delineating a woman\u2019s worth by her financial capacity rather than her inherent human value, when a full-time mother was met with pity instead of gratitude, that's when equality truly went astray. Equality is not about assimilation, not about everyone donning the same uniform, doing the same job, but rather it is about respecting all forms of life and choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a woman chooses to stay at home and devote her heart to raising her children, it is not a step backward. She is not living off of anything, rather, she is investing in the future generations. No one has the right to price hardship with a monthly salary, because there are many things that cannot be converted into money and can only be felt within one\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What the feminist movement needs to restore is not just opportunities, but choices. Beside that, what civilized societies need to relearn is not just how to empower, but how to recognize every form of female presence as a complete value of their own. Authors: Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u1eb7ng Hu\u1ef3nh Tr\u00e2m, Phan Qu\u1ef3nh Anh Th\u01b0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Translators: Hu\u1ef3nh Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng Anh, Nguy\u1ec5n Ng\u1ecdc Linh, Tr\u1ea7n \u00c1i Linh<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the past, women were once imprisoned by countless iron cages named social prejudice. Now, living in a freer society, they seem to have stepped out of that \u201cshell\u201d to engage, grow, and thrive. It all sounds promising, [\u2026]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-women-and-literature"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4049","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4049"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4599,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4049\/revisions\/4599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vnsfemaleassociation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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