Book launch "Modern Barbarians' Words

"Education of Vietnam must start with girls" is the firm assertion of scholar Nguyen Van Vinh under the pen name Dao Thi Loan in the column "Woman's Words" of Dang Co Tung Bao newspaper in 1907.

It can be said that Nguyen Van Vinh was one of the first intellectuals to see the importance of educating and changing the awareness, position and role of women.

The book Modern Barbarians' Words - Women's Words (published by the Vietnamese Women's Publishing House) collects Nguyen Van Vinh's articles in the newspapers Dang Co Tung Bao, Dong Duong Tap Chi and Nuoc Nam Moi, which he edited from 1907 to 1935.

Scholar Nguyen Van Vinh was the first person to open a column for women in the first national language newspapers.

His ideas about women's liberation, "enlightening" women from giving birth, caring for, raising and educating children more than 100 years ago are still valuable today.

Ra mắt sách Lời người Man di hiện đại - Nhời đàn bà - 1 — Cover of the book "Modern Barbarians' Words - Women's Words" (Photo: Vietnamese Women Publishing House).

Using the soft "em" writing style under the pen names Dao Thi Loan, Luu Thi Kieu, HT Luong to dialogue and discuss women's issues in a very friendly, close, sincere and reasonable manner.

Nguyen Van Vinh pointed out the patriarchal nature of men, expressing extreme indignation at men's insulting attitudes towards women.

He believes that women "must learn maternity right away or take care of younger siblings so that they can get used to it and later learn how to raise children", and must reform the backward birthing system: "Humans are immortal thanks to birth, so reforming birthing is very important".

Besides, he also discussed women's private issues, from the way they dress, make up, living habits (cooking, chewing betel), daily communication, to proper behavior.

For Nguyen Van Vinh, changing the perception and education of Annamese women is not far away but in what is most familiar and associated with women.

True to the name of the column he gave, "Woman's Words" brings closeness, simplicity and convinces women, because they see that Ms. Dao Thi Loan understands them very well and speaks with sincerity and reason.

From reading newspapers, women have gradually changed, so in the newspaper issue of July 18, 1907, Nguyen Van Vinh exclaimed: "My fellow countrymen! These days, men are flattering us a little. Some people even compare Trung Vuong to say that the future of this country is in our hands. That may be a bit too flattering, but if you think about it, we are not completely useless, really."

Daily words are like a steady rain that soaks in over time, helping women gradually realize their mistakes and bad habits in life to move towards a more civilized life, healthier both physically and mentally.

Nguyen Van Vinh's thoughts will forever be great pioneering marks in the fight against backwardness of the people, especially Annamese women.

Nguyen Van Vinh (1882-1936) was born in Phuong Duc - Thuong Tin, Ha Dong, now Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi. He was a famous intellectual, thinker, journalist, writer, and translator in the early 20th century.

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