Women who 'forget' March 8

Thanh Quynh - Dinh Tuyen DNUM_AIZADZCACD 07:35

(Baonghean.vn) - While half of the world happily welcomes March 8 with loving wishes and fresh bouquets of flowers, there are still many women who have to struggle to make a living. For them, March 8 is just like any other day when the burden of daily bread and clothing is still heavy on their shoulders.

At 5am at My market, Chau Nhan commune, Hung Nguyen district, the atmosphere of buying and selling is extremely bustling. In the cold fog, women and mothers are still working hard to earn extra income to support their families in the following days. Photo: Dinh Tuyen
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam has been selling mussels at My market for 35 years. For her, March 8 is like any other day when she has to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to prepare her goods in time to sell to customers. Making mussels is such a hard job, so for her, a bouquet of flowers or a gift worth hundreds of thousands of dong is a luxury. She just wants to sell all her goods in the morning so she can take care of her family. Photo: Thanh Quynh
In Vinh city, although many streets are filled with flowers and gifts on March 8, there are still images that make us feel sad when we accidentally see them. They are the figures of mothers and grandmothers, who, although they are over 50 years old this year, even over 60 years old, still have to stick to hard jobs. Their luggage is only old carts with simple baskets. On days when there are no customers, they have to return empty-handed. Photo: Dinh Tuyen
With skillful hands and diligence, many women have truly become highly skilled workers sought after by the labor market. Whether it is a holiday or a day off, as long as there is an order, they immediately do their job with full enthusiasm. Because after those orders, there are the costs of their children's education, the support for the family to have an additional source of stable income. Photo: Thanh Quynh
Not only men are attached to hard work, now, many women have taken on difficult jobs such as construction workers, coolies, motorbike taxi drivers... Beyond the meaning of making a living, it is the way they work and earn money honestly to affirm their value in the family and society. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

In the hustle and bustle of industrial life, female workers seem to have to work at full speed. Not only do they ensure the correct number of working hours, most of them also register for overtime to earn more income. Photo: Thanh Quynh

As the oldest woman in the family, Ms. Pham Thi Hoang (born in 1940), in Tru Son commune, Do Luong district, shared: "If the concept of March 8 is a time to rest or receive flowers and gifts, then rural women will hardly have that. For women who have worked hard since childhood like us, on March 8, all we need is a harmonious family atmosphere, being able to gather with our children and grandchildren to have a warm meal and we will be happy all day!". Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Her husband suffered a heart attack and lost his ability to work, so Nguyen Thi Dao (born in 1973), in Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city, had to work hard to take care of her two children and family. Carrying that burden, she still smiled when she worked. Having sold goods at Vinh market for more than 30 years, she did not know what March 8 was, but as long as she was healthy, a smile always shone on her lips. Photo: Thanh Quynh
Hardship is not only for self-employed women, many female workers in other professions in society also face many hardships. In the photo is nurse Nguyen Thi Tam (born in 1991) - nurse of the Breast Surgery Department, Nghe An Oncology Hospital. For them, taking care of patients is the most important thing, whether it is a day off or a holiday, Tet. And the most meaningful gift for them is the smile and health of the patient improving every day. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Thanh Quynh - Dinh Tuyen