Gender prejudice in Vietnam(phân biệt giới tính ở Việt Nam)

I, INTRODUCTION

3

1. Rationale of the study

3

2. Aims of the study

4

II, DEVELOPMENT

4

1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

4

1.1. Definitions of gender prejudice

4

1.2 Definitions of misogyny

5

1.3. Definitions of woman

5

1.4 Definitions of respect for men and disregard of women

6

2, DISCUSSION

6

2.1. Gender prejudice through the ages in Vietnam

6

2.1.1. Gender prejudice in the past

6

2.1.2. Gender prejudice in modern times

7

2.2. Women assert themselves in Vietnam

9

2.2.1. Women assert themselves in the past

9

2.2.2. Women assert themselves in modern times

11

2.3. Activities and proposals to regain equal laws for the woman

12

III. CONCLUSION

13

1


REFERENCES

15

LIST ABBREVIATION

Abbreviation

Explanation

UCMJ

Uniform Code of Military Justice

MI

Military Intelligence

2


I, INTRODUCTION
1, Rationale of the topic
From time immemorial, the problem of gender prejudice always exists in life. In
the past, the respect for men and disregard of women was very serious, the women living
in feudal society were the ones most affected, it created many tragedies for women's
lives. The ancients believed that femininity is the quality of being a female, which
includes the behaviors and roles that are generally associated with women. In the 1930s
and earlier, mothers usually stayed home, did the household chores such as laundry,
cooking, cleaning, as well as taking care of the children. The men would go to work then
return home after a long day and expect dinner ready, and then relax. Within families, in
many generations, women taught their daughters to do the same to be the “good wife”
society expects each woman to be.[1]
Currently, the phenomenon of male disdain is not as serious as in the past, but
somewhere this situation still continues. The norms of both men and women have
changed as far as it is now acceptable for women to work, in addition to all the family
and household responsibilities she has, but also men helping more around the house and
playing more of the role when caring for the children. However, although women have
come a long way from before, there still seems to be a lack of respect toward women. The
way artists refer to women in their songs or how company’s advertisements depict
women as sex images, these are ways popular culture portrays women today. Popular
culture such as music, advertisements, and television, impact a person’s idea of a woman
being negative, which is not how they should be viewed by others.[1]
In recent years, the Communist Party and Socialist Republic of Vietnam have
always considered gender equality and women's advancement an important goal of
national development. Vietnam is also recognized as one of the most successful Southeast

Asian countries in closing the gender gap during the past 20 years. Vietnam's gender
equality is considered by the United Nations as a bright spot in the implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals, and is one of the countries with high gender equality
achievements.
Nevertheless, in practice gender-based differences are still widespread across
many sectors. Employment opportunities and income of women compared to men are
limited, and women face many difficulties in finding work. Domestic violence,
prostitution, and trafficking in women and girls still take place in many forms. The
percentage of female cadres in state management, economic management, culture,
science and technology is still too low. The current state of respect for men and disregard
of women is most common in remote areas, people here lack social skills and knowledge.
They still think that giving birth to the daughter is also someone else's daughter, while the
son will live with his parents for the rest of his life. With those outdated notions, many
women here have suffered a lot.

Studies have shown that there are no social differences between men and women,


only biological differences. However, in reality, up to now, gender stereotypes still exist
and can be found in many social groups: both women and men, even among leaders who play a decisive role for policy making and implementation towards women and the
people.
There are many reasons leading to gender inequality, but one pressing issue that is
not easily changed every day is gender prejudice.
2. Aims of the study
I have conducted a comparative study of gender prejudice in Vietnam in the past and
present in order to see the change of stereotypes about women over time. Since then, I also
offer the most practical solutions to move towards a future where women can be themselves
without having to endure stigma and discrimination from outdated prejudices. This research
will help people understand what women have done and will do.

II. DEVELOPMENT
1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

1.1 Definitions of gender prejudice
Prejudice are pre-existing thoughts that are hard to change. To achieve the goal of
gender equality, it is necessary to have a common understanding of the concept of gender
stereotypes.
Currently, there are many conceptions of gender stereotypes. There is a concept
that: Gender prejudice is an absolutized generalization of the characteristics, properties
and roles of women and men. Another concept: Gender stereotype is a set of
characteristics that a certain group of people, a particular community ascribes and
evaluates as attributes of men or women. Another view is that: Gender stereotypes are
pre-existing, stereotyped, one-dimensional perceptions and concepts of society about the
characteristics, positions and roles of men or women. [6]
Gender prejudice is a biased and negative perception, attitude, and assessment of
the position, role and capacity of a man or a woman. Although in the current era, gender
stereotypes have been somewhat more advanced, however, they still have not escaped the
trend that existed since feudal times, which is to bring privileges to men and make
women feel better. weakened. This is the reason for the pressure on both sexes to fulfill
their roles, responsibilities and rights in life, and is the root cause of gender inequality.[7]

1.2 Definitions of misogyny


Misogyny or also known “woman hater” is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice
against women. It is a form of sexism that is used to keep women at a lower social status
than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely
practiced for thousands of years. It is reflected in art, literature, human societal structure,
historical events, mythology, philosophy, and religion worldwide.
An example of misogyny is violence against women, which includes domestic

violence and, in its most extreme forms, misogynist terrorism and femicide. Misogyny
also often operates through sexual harassment, coercion, and psychological techniques
aimed at controlling women, and by legally or socially excluding women from full
citizenship. In some cases, misogyny rewards women for accepting an inferior status.
Misogyny can be understood both as an attitude held by individuals, primarily by
men, and as a widespread cultural custom or system.
In feminist thought, misogyny also includes the rejection of feminine qualities. It
holds in contempt institutions, work, hobbies, or habits associated with women. It rejects
any aspects of men that are seen as feminine or unmanly. Misogyny may or may not
include hate towards LGBT people, in the forms of homophobia and transmisogyny.
Racism and other prejudices may reinforce and overlap with misogyny.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the English word "misogyny" was
coined in the middle of the 17th century from the Greek misos ‘hatred’ + gunē ‘woman’.
The word was rarely used until it was popularised by second-wave feminism in the
1970s.
1.3 Definitions of woman
A woman is an adult female human.[2][3] Prior to adulthood, a female human is
referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent).[4] Woman is a general concept that
refers to a person in society who has the socially recognized sex characteristics of the
ability to become pregnant and give birth when their body is mature and sexual function
is functioning normally.
The word woman can be used generally, to mean any female human, or
specifically, to mean an adult female human as contrasted with girl. The word girl
originally meant "young person of either sex" in English [5]; it was only around the
beginning of the 16th century that it came to mean specifically a female child [6]. The
term girl is sometimes used colloquially to refer to a young or unmarried woman;
however, during the early 1970s, feminists challenged such use because the use of the
word to refer to a fully grown woman may cause offence. In particular, previously
common terms such as office girl are no longer widely used. Conversely, in certain
cultures which link family honor with female virginity, the word girl (or its equivalent in

other languages) is still used to refer to a never-married woman; in this sense it is used in
a fashion roughly analogous to the more-or-less obsolete English maid or maiden.

1.4 Definitions of respect for men and disregard of women


Male preference is a form of gender-based discrimination in which men are seen
as having a more important role than women. This has been and is a system of thought
that exists in many parts of the world, especially in feudalism. Although equality between
women and men is now recognized by the United Nations, the legal system that favors
men over women still exists in some countries, especially religious countries (such as
Islam or Hinduism). In other countries, the legal system recognizes men and women as
equal before the law, but many people still carry this idea to varying degrees, stemming
from the fact that prominent individuals in society (Politicians, generals, famous
scientists, billionaires...) are still mostly men because they have better physical capacity,
psychological endurance and logical thinking ability than women.[1]
2, DISCUSSION
2.1. Gender prejudice through the ages in Vietnam
2.1.1. Gender prejudice in the past
In Vietnam, violence against women remains a widespread problem, fueled,
especially in the past, by patriarchal social values, lack of adequate laws, and lack of
enforcement of existing laws. During the feudal era, the practice of respect for men and
disregard of women has been clearly expressed in many aspects and fields of social life.
• In feudal dynasties, the throne was only passed to sons, who held great powers and
high positions in the court were also men. Meanwhile, women are considered as
concubines, with almost no voice and decision-making power in the family.
• Families prefer to have boys over girls. Women who give birth to boys are
therefore also respected and loved more.
• The inheritance of property in the family is also mainly left to the son. Daughters
often have no inheritance rights or only small assets. This partly also stems from

the notion that a daughter is "married to become a man", when she gets married,
she follows her husband's family.
• In the family, men often have more say, have the right to decide on important
issues, even all issues.
• In the feudal society, even only boys could study, take exams, and pass as
mandarins. Women are associated with the family, housework, cooking and
serving the husband's family.
Sexual violence against women greatly increases during times of war and armed
conflict, during military occupation, or ethnic conflicts; most often in the form of war
rape and sexual slavery. During the Vietnam War included sexual violence and rapes
directed against Vietnamese civilians by United States and South Korean troops [8].

In August 1967, a 13-year-old Vietnamese girl was raped by an American MI


interrogator of the 196th Infantry Brigade while interrogating her as a suspected Viet
Cong member. A joint military court tried the soldier, and he was humiliatingly
discharged and 20 years in prison. However, his sentence was reduced to a year after an
appeal. In total, he was detained for only seven months and 16 days.
According to Daddis, the UCMJ system discriminated against Vietnamese rights in
favor of American rights. The court system did not protect local women or listen to their
stories. For example, military officials detained a 20-year-old Vietnamese woman, who
later alleges that 10 American soldiers raped her while she was in prison. The woman was
only able to identify her two rapists when questioned by investigators. She then said that
"she was not sure" and the case was quickly dismissed due to the lack of sufficient
evidence to support her claims. The truth is, we don’t even know the full story of that
obscenity. This, too, has been sanitized and swapped out for tales of combat horror or
“realistic” accounts of the war in the boonies that focus on repulsive realities.

A woman's body in the My Lai massacre

2.1.2. Gender prejudice in modern times
Gender prejudice leads to denial and discrimination of women in almost all fields
of human activity. Social equality and social justice are one of the most prized ideals of

contemporary society but social inequality and injustice has been a feature of every


known society- past and present.
Nowadays, the role and position of women in society in general and the family in
particular have been greatly enhanced compared to before. However, considering the
current situation of gender issues in our country, there are still pressing problems in the
family such as: Some women still have to do housework mainly; there are still ideas that
respect men and despise women in the process of taking care of children; domestic
violence still exists and occurs in some places.
Vietnam is a country strongly influenced by feudalism and Confucianism. It is
deeply rooted in the lives of many generations. There is a saying that "a family with one
son means having children, and with ten daughters, there are no children", reflecting the
Confucian way of evaluating children as male or female. In the past (and even today)
there is still a mindset that attaches great importance to the birth of a son. If there is no
son, the heir is still considered dead and when a parent or grandparent dies, there will be
no person or place of worship. Therefore, most families today are still trying to have a
son. Besides, the positive aspects of moral education, the idea of respecting men and
disrespecting women is no longer appropriate.
Beside that majority, there are families with very innovative ideas: all children are
the same, are loved and cared for the same, and show fairness. Daughters marrying poor
people are willing to live with their husbands or buy apartments for their own living, as
long as their daughters live happily. The same is true for a son to get married, and the
inheritance of both is equal. These are people who can see far and wide and understand
the truth of life.
Many grandparents force their daughters to give birth to a grandson, otherwise

they will be considered unfilial, this is not a rare case. The old feudal ideas, if they don't
free themselves from it, live very limited lives, always afraid of being judged and
derided, which is also the cause of the breakup of happiness in so many families just
because of their pride. As for those who are confident, they live very comfortably, all just
aiming for a good life for themselves and their children, boys or girls are their children
and not necessarily born. boy. The backward ideology that favors men and despises
women needs to be changed, so that men and women can be equal in today's society.
In Vietnam, in the H'Mong ethnic minority people, there is a custom of pulling the
bride. When the daughter is older, the son goes to the girl's house and steals it to be his
wife. It is a good and humane custom of the H'Mong people for a long time with two
conditions: First, both must truly love each other, the marriage is on a voluntary basis.
Finally, and most importantly, both are required to be of legal age to get married.
However, nowadays, good customs are becoming more and more distorted.

The custom is deeply rooted to this day, when women get back, they will often
become the main labor. This custom often arises about child marriage, couples get


married but still have not really matured. They get married early to have more people to
work, soon give birth to children, have more workers. Respecting men and disrespecting
women is also very clear, getting married to serve.
In Ha Giang province, there was an incident in Meo Vac: a girl named V.T.S (14
years old) was arrested by Giang Mi Cho (16 years old) to be his wife. Fortunately, the
police arrived just in time.

The police officer successfully prevented the child marriage case.
2.2 Women assert themselves in Vietnam
2.2.1. Women assert themselves in the past
Vietnamese women are an important source of factors for the comprehensive
development of Vietnamese society. History has and always proves the presence of

women in important roles in society. The process of construction, production labor,
fighting against natural disasters, etc. Confirmed through capacity and virtue in social
activities, including in the most non-traditional fields. Women have contributed a great
deal of effort and wisdom to peace and human civilization.

In Vietnamese history, women have always been recognized as the source of
happiness, taking care of husband and children, supporting elderly and weak parents, and


supporting in all aspects of family life. Women have the roles of lovers, wives, mothers,
bringers of family happiness, and persistent contributors to the cause of the Nation.
There is an ancient legend of the Vietnamese people, nearly 5000 years ago, Au
Co married Lac Long King and gave birth to 50 sons and 50 daughters. In the popular
legends in modern Vietnamese culture, Au Co is a beautiful fairy living in the high
mountains. And the fact that she married Lac Long Quan was like a dragon, giving birth
to 100 children, turning the Vietnamese people into descendants of the Dragon and the
Fairy.

Au Co and Lac Long Quan

From 40 to 43, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi emerged together and brought their
troops to fight To Dinh. The two women defeated 65 strongholds. Although the Trung
dynasty reigned for 3 years, they proved the indomitable spirit of women in the early
period of defending the country, as well as making the Han Dynasty afraid. That is what
has created a huge splash in Vietnam.[9]


Hai Ba Trung( Dong Ho painting)
2.2.2. Women assert themselves in modern times
In peacetime, women use their intelligence and ingenuity to demonstrate their

bravery in the marketplace, in economics or in politics. Many Vietnamese women have
been praised by the press and honored by magazines as among the most powerful
women.
One of the most powerful women in Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan is the
President of the National Assembly of Vietnam. She is one of the politically powerful
women.

The President of the National Assembly – Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan


Ms. Ngan was born in 1954 in Ben Tre province, she holds a master's degree in
economics, majoring in finance and credit, and a bachelor's degree in politics. Before
becoming the Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, she held many
important positions in the Vietnamese state apparatus such as: Deputy Director of Ben
Tre Department of Finance, Director of Department of Finance; Deputy Minister of
Finance, Secretary of Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee; Congress vice president;
member of the Politburo…. She is now retired.
The last person I would like to introduce is Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao who is
the second billionaire in Vietnam after Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong – The president of
Vingroup. Ms. Phuong Thao is currently the President of Sovico Holdings, the General
Director of Vietjet Air. Ms. Thao studied economics and finance in Russia, then started a
commodity business in Eastern Europe and Asia. Returning to the south, she invested in
banking, real estate, and resorts. Then she opened a low-cost airline called Vietjet.
Vietjet's success has helped Ms. Thao become a billionaire in Vietnam and one of the
most powerful women.

Chief Executive Officer of VietJet Aviation- Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

2.3. Activities and proposals to regain equal laws for the woman
Stemming from the negative effects of gender stereotypes, the elimination of

gender stereotypes is a must with a number of solutions as follows:


First, raising awareness of gender equality for people, communities and
communities through gender propaganda, contributing to changing gender awareness.
The images of women associated with social roles and men doing housework are
gradually changing the public perception that men or women can do any job that suits
their ability to meet the needs of society without any clear division of any other gender.
From changing gender awareness through gender image, gender behavior will gradually
change in the direction of progress towards equality between men and women. On the
one hand, we affirm the intellectual ability of the two sexes to be the same, but on the
other hand, we also acknowledge the difference in gender to put women in the right
position and perform their functions well. Women today in the development trend will
reveal new qualities day by day. All of these qualities need to be promoted, if they are not
forced by prejudice, they will become progress and development and they will contribute
a lot to the development of the country.
Second, in order to be able to promote women's roles and abilities, social
services for the family need to be developed widely and in line with incomes so that
women can easily access them. Create conditions for women to invest in production and
business, improve their income, have a voice in the family and thus be less dependent on
their husbands. Basically, overcome inequality in a number of areas such as: land use
rights, house ownership, social benefits, insurance regime…
Third, women need to be relieved of the family burden. Men need to participate
in housework together with women. It is the husband's sharing and sympathy that has
made many women successful in their careers.
Fourth, leaders in agencies with many women need to raise gender awareness
so that there can be gender equity in recruitment and training.
As Uncle Ho once said: gender prejudice is a habit left behind for thousands of
years, it is deeply rooted in people's thinking about work..., liberating women is a big and
difficult revolution.

III. CONCLUSION
The thoughts and actions of each of us in life are always influenced by old ways of
thinking, old habits, especially prejudices of a community, a locality, a group on a certain
issue. .
Gender prejudice is expressed in many forms in life, it is an incorrect recognition
of the capabilities of men and women, of the personality qualities that men or women
should have, of the type of activities and professions. jobs that men or women can or
cannot do. Gender stereotypes often do not reflect true abilities of each gender and are
often limited to what society allows or expects individuals to do.


Gender stereotypes are a common psychosocial phenomenon, it is worth
mentioning that these gender stereotypes are present in all segments of society, including
intellectuals, they cause negative consequences for both men and women. .
Therefore, eliminating gender stereotypes is a very necessary and urgent job, to
achieve the goal of gender equality - an important goal in international documents on
human rights, especially the Convention. United Nations on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the International Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC), the Millennium Development Goals... Vietnam has signed, joined the
public international conventions above. Vietnam's promulgation of the Law on Gender
Equality shows its determination to eliminate discrimination against men and women,
which is the most complete answer to Vietnam's problem in implementing the
Convention.


REFERENCES
[1] Works Cited Devor H. Aaron. “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social
Meanings of Gender.”
[2]Mosby (2009). Mosby's Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1453. ISBN 978-0323066044.

[3] Venes D (2017). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis. p. 2539. ISBN 9780803659407.
[4] "Definition of girl noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary". Oxford
University Press. 13 September 2013
[5] September 2013. Oxford University Press. 13 September 2013
[6] According to the Vietnamese Dictionary (Institute of Linguistics - Da Nang Publishing
House - 2003),
[7] According to Clause 4, Article 5 of the 2006 Law on Gender Equality
[8] "Murder in the name of war – My Lai". BBC. 20 July 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
[9] History of Vietnam (2019), Trung dynasty, Chapter II, pp. 53-54.
Link
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