Gender Talk #6: Vietnamese Women in Foreign and Local Literature: Timeless Representation, Endless Transformation
GT: October 31, 2019, Gender Talk # 6-The Academic Activity on Gender and Gender Equality was held at Hoa Sen University (HSU). Dr. Christopher Dennis-Delacour-HSU Lecturer presented the topic: Vietnamese Women in Foreign and Local Literature: Timeless Representation, Endless Transformation.
Gender Talk
# 6 focuses on gender and women's roles through literary works such as: The
Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du (1766–1820), Printemps Inachevé by Ly Thu Ho (1962),
Métisse Blanché by Kim Lefèvre (1989), Red on Gold by Nam Phuong (1991), Chon
Vang by Duong Thu Huong (2002), Love, Crime and Punishment by Nguyen Huy Thiep
(1989-1995), Ngay Thuong by Duong Phuong Vinh (1994) , Khi Nguoi Ta Tre by Phan
Thi Vang Anh (1993), Canh Dong Bat Tan by Nguyen Ngoc Tu (2006), Bich Minh
Nguyen's Short Girls (2009), Linh Dinh's Love Like Hate (2010).
Initially,
Dr. Christopher Denis-Delacour emphasized the origin of gender awareness,
myths, and continuous changes in literary works in Vietnam and abroad. For
example, The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du. Thuy Kieu is described as a completely
talented girl, but has to sell herself to save her father. Thuy Kieu and Kim
Trong have a beautiful and romantic love but have too much tragedy and
suffering. Although Thuy Kieu is good, hard-working and sharp, she has to
oblige to the patriarchal rules of three follow and four virtues. This view
considers that women cannot escape their own fate, especially the word
"virginity" tied the women in general and Kieu in particular in a
painful and tormented mood. The concept of chastity is taught and passed on
from generation to generation. It slowly permeates and is deeply rooted in
everyone's perception. The word chastity in feudal society was only for women
and this inequality point of view causes women not to make bold decisions if
they have any intention to achieve their own freedom and happiness.
Next, Dr.
Christopher Denis-Delacour talked about women during the war or post-war.
Literature works mentioned women’s status, including Red on Gold by Nam Phuong
(1991), Chon Vang by Duong Thu Huong (2002), Love, Crime and Punishment by
Nguyen Huy Thiep (1989-1995). In the second half of the 1980s, Vietnamese
literature emerged of a Nguyen Huy Thiep phenomenon, who wrote about real-life
without covering up the truth. From a feminist perspective, Love, Crime and
Punishment works depict maginalized people, who are rejected by society. It is
the social prejudices that push them into corrupt, pragmatic, conservative
situations that make them "mentally dark" and unable to make changes
or liberate their own.
Then, Dr.
Christopher Denis-Delacour discusses the renewal period. One of the famous
works is “When People Are Young” by Phan Thi Vang Anh. This work presents the
echoes of war, worries, concerns, and aspirations for love and love of women in
the face of drastic changes. Topics in When People Are Young focus on love and
love is described as a kind of a game, an adventure, an adventure for a woman.
With love, Vang Anh's characters end up being tormented in "self-aware
tragedy". This shows that modern people have the ability to improve their
personality, self-adjustment on their ethical behaviors in order to have the
strong will to rise up in life regardless of barriers of inequality or gender
stereotypes.
Finally, the
presentation touched on the uncertainty of freedom, future, chaos, and
globalization. Nguyen Ngoc Tu's works-The Endless Fields is a prime example of
this. The dominant relationship that covers the whole story includes: Two
Children and the World of Ducks. The characters Nuong and Dien form a strange
relationship with the ducks. The work Endless Field contains views on the
gender role in work, the role of a woman's mother and wife in modern society.
In addition, The Endless Field is also a painful but hopeless journey to find
sex identity, love, and gender harmony in a patriarchal and gender prejudiced
society. Regardless of the era, the women seem to be closely linked with the
role of being a wife and mother. This perception is a "die-hard" and
difficult to breakthrough because it is so popular that people do not dare to
do it differently, not dare to look different, and not dare to change. People easily assimilate themselves in
patterns of gender that are mold or shaped in society. However, deep down in
their heart and soul, women long for or want to fight for their freedom and
self-expression.
In a
nutshell, literature allows us to convey the specific inner complexity of
Vietnamese women, gender stereotypes, and many variations in gender norms
(whether they are chosen or not) by communicating through the main characters
in different contexts. Understanding female characters through literature is an
endless exploration. It helps us to have a deep comprehension of gender
perception, representation, and roles. It also enriches gender knowledge for social
science experts and individuals interested in women. Literary genres will make
a subjective choice among writers of gender perspectives.
FEEDBACK OF AUDIENCE ABOUT GENDER
TALK # 6:
Ma Gia Kim - HSU student: Gender Talk is a very rewarding,
practical, and interesting academic activity about the image of women. Gender
Talk also shares stories that I have not been heard before, so I come to learn
from everyone. The conversation covers academic knowledge and incorporates real
stories. Most of the talk was in English and thanks to Gender Talk, I am also
enriched with my own English vocabulary. Once again, I would like to thank
everyone for this great Gender Talk.
Vu Thi Hoang Dung - HSU student: I feel more interesting when
understanding the literary works on the woman's image through each period. From
The Story of Kieu by Nguyen Du to the war period in Red on Gold and to the Doi
Moi period in 1986, up to now. From time to time, women in society have
different views. For example, Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du depicts a talented,
perfect girl whose life has been ups and downs for 15 years. Women in this
period were always associated with the phrase "fate". Kieu has to
sacrifice their life to save her father. During the war period, women have no
choice for themselves. Christopher's voice is both easy to hear and engaging.
How he answered difficult questions such as: "Why don't you use familiar
images of Vietnamese people like Sister Dau, author Ho Xuan Huong, poem, like
Banh Troi Nuoc" or Suong Nguyet Anh to analyze women roles?” or
"Should we change the fairy tales because the heroic image is mostly
male?" and discuss pre-marriage issues as well? I feel that audience has
diverse perspectives on gender issues. Through this talk, I learn to appreciate
women more and sympathize with women who have been unfairly treated by society.
This is not fair because women are stereotyped and prejudiced. At the same
time, I feel fortunate to be born in this society where women are equal to men.
Thank you very much to the Organizers to hold this Gender Talk #6!
Nguyen Ha Phuong shared, gender is a large area discussed
in literature. Gender equality is also a very important issue when appearing in
movies, literature, or in everyday life. Images of Vietnamese women appear in literature
and are constantly changing, building up the awareness about gender, myth, and
transfer: "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyen Du, a masterpiece of
Vietnamese literature writes about the character Kieu. She is a beautiful,
talented girl, and she has everything for herself but has a miserable life. She
had to sacrifice herself to save her family and be pushed into the prostitution
house. Kieu's lover is Kim Trong and he also loves her. But she turned down a
promise with Kim Trong to sacrifice for her father. It is also the weakness,
sacrifice, and destiny of the woman's condition. Beauty and talent go with
troublesome. It was in the 18th and 19th centuries, and is it still happening
today? Perhaps it still appears in Vietnamese culture up to now. The speaker
talked about the culture of Vietnam influenced by Confucian ideology with the
rules of three follows and four virtues.
Next is
Printemps inachevé (Ly Thu Ho), which shows the effects of more than three
decades of war on the Vietnamese family. When sacrificing, a woman's longing
for freedom becomes a punishment of virtue by traditional prejudice.
The work:
"Métisse Blanche" is about a half-blood, the result of the illegal
love of a Tonkinese woman and a French soldier who abandoned her. The story
dealt with appearance, racism, identity issues, and migration.
For women in
war warfare, postwar women, Vietnamese women were divided with their husbands
and children because they had to join the fight. The women had to work alone,
they had to take care of their children, work in ambulance stations, hospitals,
and sometimes liberation from their husbands and children. After that, they
left the country but still remember their homeland. It is the transformation of
Vietnamese women, that is new role models, war witnesses, community narrators,
memories.
The work:
"Terre Des Oublis" tells about Mien, a young Vietnamese woman. The
man she married fourteen years ago and who was believed to have died as a hero
has returned. Meanwhile, Mien has remarried to a wealthy landowner, whom she
loves and with whom she has a child. But Bon, a veteran of the communist,
demands his wife. Under pressure from the community, Mien returns to live with
her first husband. The characters are the victims of a society steeped in
ethical and political principles.
A noteworthy
milestone is 1986, the time when women no longer suffer from war, a time when
Vietnam is open to exchange. It also shows the support of Vietnam in the
protection of women's rights. They need peace, good life, and gender equality.
Ly Kim Nhung - HSU student addressed: “By participating in
this conversation, I not only expanded my knowledge in the field of history and
literature, but I also learned more that the Vietnamese women had to go through
terrible things in the feudal society. They suffered injustice and Kieu in the
Story of Kieu by Nguyen Du was a typical example. Kieu had to sell her body to
pay her father's debt and was treated badly in her life. Also, the character
Nuong in the Endless Field was gang-raped but still persisted in giving birth
to his unknown father. Only from literary and cinematographic works can we
absorb some of the pain that resilient Vietnamese women have endured.
Currently,
the world in general and Vietnam, in particular, have been changing, but there
are still many cases in society: domestic violence or problems between
mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, which pushed many lives of women into
difficulties. They had to move out of her husband's house in a state of no
money, no job, and sometimes helplessness. If the world is equal, then why are
these injustices still happening to Vietnamese women? Even there are people who
have to leave their jobs to stay at home to do housework and take care of their
families. Even though the woman sacrifices is that sometimes what they get is
the contempt that comes from their own husband. Is it because we forgot to love
ourselves first and inadvertently gave others the right to hurt ourselves?
After
listening to Mr. Christopher discussing these issues, I got the answer that we
have the choice, and we have full control over it and how others treat us.
Writer Tene Edwards once said: "Know your self-worth: You must find the
courage to leave the table when respect is not served." It may be
difficult to start a new life, but only we love ourselves enough and work hard,
our life will be better.
We need to
get rid of the idea that if we sacrifice everything we have, we will receive
love and respect in return. Each person needs to hold his own values and the
strength to steer the boat of his life. Unlike the old days, now everyone has
the same opportunity to study and strive to control their own life and not rely
on or depend on anyone. When we have the strength of wisdom, we will be brave
and confident enough to decide our own destiny.
In addition,
a topic that I also really like is the issue of premarital relations of young
people. Today, there are many young people who mistakenly think of sex as love.
Although sex and love are indispensable, sex is ultimately just the spice of
love, and we only add seasoning when the love is filled. Relationships before
or after marriage, they are not that important, but it is important that we be
sure of our decisions and know how to protect ourselves from unhealthy
relationships. It is not only about the body, about one's own decisions and a
future ahead.
Finally, I
am very honored to participate in this meaningful seminar and have expanded
many aspects of the lives of Vietnamese women. I look forward to the upcoming
Gender Talk.
Dao Nguyen Thanh Vy - HSU student
shared, “The
Gender Talk symposium is very meaningful because it helps me understand gender
knowledge and understand injustices towards women from the past and up to now.
Vu Minh Quan talked about his feelings: “The
seminar is very meaningful, it helps me understand more about gender equality
especially through famous literary works that I have. learned through. In
addition, thanks to this workshop, I have more knowledge about gender, which
changes the way I see women. ”
Vo Phuc Huynh Thuy Truc said that “I was fortunate to have
the opportunity to attend GENDER TALK # 6. I have felt more deeply about the
image of Vietnamese women in Vietnamese and foreign literature. I was very
impressed with a friend's question: why does the speaker not talk about the
image of Vietnamese women through literary works that we learned from high
school programs such as Mrs. Dau, Ho Xuan Huong or Suong Nguyet Anh?”. Majority
of literary works was new to some students. Ms. Ngoc-the moderator shared that
“we should learn something news and think outside the box” and I was so
impressed. Many of us have become accustomed to thinking in the same way, but
today we learned something new and analyzed images of Vietnamese women in
different ways. Thank you the Gender Talk Organizer and the Speaker!
Nguyen Thi Thuy Hien wrote that I felt that the talk
helped me to realize the woman's worth and dignity when attending Gender Talk
#6. I understood and identified the gender stereotype of society from past to
present via literature works. Thank you the Gender Talk Organizer and the
Speaker!
Nguyen Bao Huy expressed his comments. First, I
want to thank Ms. Ngoc and Dr. Christopher for creating this humanistic and
meaningful seminar. Gender Talk # 6 tells me about the role and position of
women in the past and now through poems, stories, and books both at home and
abroad. Through Gender Talk #6, I learned more about the knowledge of foreign
and Vietnamese literature on Vietnamese women’s roles and challenges they have
faced. I also learned from other students who raised several questions during
the discussion section. Ms. Ngoc and Dr. Christopher are very enthusiastic and
express affection to the students. They answered questions very clearly and
thoroughly. And what I cherish the most is a touching moment that Dr.
Christopher shared story about his former student who has just passed away and
I feel moved too. Thanks again, teachers.
Tran Thi My Trinh said that after attending the
Gender Talk with Ms. Ngoc and Dr. Christopher Denis-Delacour, I find it very
interesting and rewarding. Thank you for organizing such an interesting seminar
and I gain a lot of knowledge about Gender and Development Course, including
this seminar. Thank you the Organizer and the Teacher.
Dinh Thi Diem Phuong shared, “Through literary works, we
can see that women in feudal society, despite their perfect talent, but
eventually not many women have a happy life. For ordinary women, they are also
unhappy. How many women and girls have suffered such hard life in the world.
Women in literature are young and married, but finally, they live like widows.
To me, in fact, they are just like unpaid servants, nothing more and no less.
Female characters in the works have almost no right to decide anything. Through
the image of Banh Troi Nuoc by Ho Xuan Huong, she talks about the life and
virtue of a woman: Like a cake that floats in the water, both white and round,
it refers to the beauty of a Vietnamese woman. Attractive but the status of a
woman depends on men. Women have to accept the fate that is arranged for them,
but they own good qualities. Ho Xuan Huong speaks up demanding women's rights
to happiness and to live in the home peacefully. She also exposed the
hypocrites and the lewd. This shows that feudal ideology is ripped which has
existed for many generations.
In addition,
in literary works, some writers have said that beautiful women will not have a
beautiful ending, particularly, Kieu by Nguyen Du. She is beautiful, but
trampled on a prostitute den and is played by disgusting men. The common
feature of Vietnamese women in the literary works is the desire to love and
find true love and happiness, but no one dares to stand up and fight for
it. Society back then has too many
reasons to bury their lives, their burning desire. They become concubines and
sex toys for men.
Feudal
society and patriarchy emphasize male rights and polygamy, which create
suffering for women. Faced with such painful situations, many writers cannot
avoid their responsibilities and obligations. They write about women’s
suffering and traumatic lives, which contributed to the Vietnamese literature
and make a wake up on for humane trend with many valuable works. Those are
genuine works of art that need to be preserved and circulated.
By Doan Thi Ngoc
