Modern women must know their own worth.

Modern women need to know how to utilize all available resources to handle both domestic and social responsibilities.

On the occasion of Vietnamese Women's Day, October 20th, Dr. Ho Lam Giang believes that modern women must know their own worth. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

Changes in the roles of women

From research on gender roles throughout history, I've observed that women today are no longer confined to the stereotypical roles they once were. In the workplace, an increasing number of women have become leaders, holding high-ranking positions in the government and state agencies. In the family, many women are able to assume the role of the primary breadwinner, even replacing men.

Current media discourse on the "multi-pillar household" concept is both an affirmation of women's roles in the modern era and a societal recognition of the changing gender landscape. It's not necessarily true that women must be the homemakers, or that men must be the breadwinners; it depends on each individual's abilities, career opportunities, and desires.

The question of who is the primary breadwinner is not important, as long as respect and shared efforts are ensured to build a happy family. Many women hold important roles in agencies and organizations, while also readily taking on the role of being the primary breadwinner in their families. This inevitably leads to some notions of "housework is women's work" becoming outdated prejudices in modern society.

The current trend is to teach self-care skills in schools for both boys and girls. Housework is a shared responsibility between the two genders, just as building the family's finances and providing for it is the responsibility of both husband and wife. Of course, equality doesn't mean leveling the playing field; it must be based on each person's abilities and strengths, and the couple will divide responsibilities appropriately. Furthermore, the increasing number and growing recognition and support from society for single-mother families demonstrates women's ability to manage their families and their independence. They can fulfill the roles of both father and mother.

In fact, women have proven their ability to be both father and mother, providing for their children financially and raising them well. Vietnamese society is also gradually becoming more open and accepting of single-mother families. Some supportive policies, such as the law allowing single women who want to have children without getting married, allow them to undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART). Their children are registered without needing information about the father… This is a significant support, impacting a strong shift in the role of women in the modern era.

Currently, many new professions are emerging, especially in the service, manufacturing, and technology sectors. This has created more job opportunities for women, moving beyond the traditional confines of domestic work. The development of education and the concept of equality in education have also contributed to creating a high-quality female workforce capable of holding many important positions in organizations and businesses. As a result, women can assert their abilities, achieve financial independence, have a stronger voice, and lay the groundwork for self-reliance.

Globalization, in many aspects including culture, has had a profound impact on the role of women in society. Simultaneously, it has created significant changes in women's thinking, position, and power in many fields. The influence of feminist ideology from the West, channeled through various aspects of globalization—from media and education to non- governmental organizations, the economic environment, and popular culture—has significantly altered Vietnam, particularly in the perception of women's roles and rights.

The emergence of the Internet and the concept of a flat world in information transmission has created a revolution in social awareness, dramatically changing it. As a result, gender stereotypes have gradually been eliminated and replaced by new, more open and modern ideas. The Internet has not only helped change societal thinking about the role of women but has also facilitated the promotion of gender freedom through social media channels.

Furthermore, it is important to mention the support of a series of policies and laws aimed at strengthening the role, equality, and autonomy of women. Many policies and laws on women's rights, combating domestic violence, equality in work, and education have been enacted under the influence of international commitments… All of these factors have led to changes in the role of women in society.

As women's roles in the workplace, society, and family become increasingly recognized, their responsibilities also increase. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

Understanding your value to shine.

Why is balancing work and family necessary? I think it stems from the fact that both work and family are very important roles for women. More importantly, many women feel unable to balance these two responsibilities. This prevents them from being happy and significantly depletes their mental strength and willpower.

Although many nuclear families now divide household chores between the genders, the primary role in raising and nurturing children is still largely placed on the mother. Therefore, the question of work-life balance is frequently raised, and the old adage "excellent at work, capable at home" was often reserved for women rather than men.

It must be acknowledged that as women's roles in work, society, and family become increasingly recognized, their responsibilities also increase. The old slogan, "excellent at work, capable at home," still seems to dominate the thinking of many women today. Even though many nuclear families now divide household chores between the genders, the primary role in raising and nurturing children remains largely placed on the mother.

The double standards regarding domestic responsibilities and gender stereotypes, including preconceived notions about women's roles, have placed women in a dilemma in their gender roles. Therefore, I believe the first thing women need is liberation from a cognitive and ideological standpoint. In addition, each individual must define their own standard for life balance and learn to be flexible in each stage of their journey.

To achieve this, first and foremost, each person must truly understand themselves. When you truly know what values ​​you pursue, you will know where to focus, what "balance" means, or what to concentrate on at what time.

At the same time, modern women should know how to utilize all available resources to help manage household chores. In addition, women need to know how to optimize their work by using smart, focused methods to achieve high efficiency. Proper rest and mental rejuvenation are also smart ways to improve work performance.

Ultimately, to have the health and energy to take on the many responsibilities and roles that society expects, they need to know how to dedicate time to self-care and self-love. Besides rest, recreation, and maintaining physical fitness, connecting with quality relationships and creating mental motivation are key considerations for modern women. Furthermore, observing and identifying factors that are draining their mental energy, time, or money, and then addressing them, is also a way to build a higher quality life for themselves.

I always emphasize that everyone needs to find a balance at each stage to suit their own needs and make adjustments. Fundamentally, physical, mental, and intellectual health is the most powerful resource, helping modern women balance work and life. Learn to love yourself so you can love others; set the right goals, strive, and act intelligently to create the life you dream of.

Every society will have certain prejudices. This stems from many complex causes related to history, culture, social psychology, and even the power structure… Therefore, people must always learn and update themselves to avoid falling behind, and must constantly learn to break free from ingrained prejudices.

I think that if prejudice cannot be erased or changed overnight, then we should accept its existence as a natural part of life. From there, we can adapt and protect ourselves from prejudice. The important thing is that we have faith in our values, perspectives, perceptions, and actions, and from there, we can take actions and achieve results that demonstrate and change the prejudices of society or those around us.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phu-nu-hien-dai-phai-biet-gia-tri-ban-than-290091.html