Carrying both shoulders

(Baonghean) - Vietnamese women, with their natural vocation, have created good moral qualities: kindness, affection, loyalty and sacrifice. Along with the development of modern life, the traditional moral qualities of Vietnamese women have been developed and upgraded into new standard criteria, which are: confidence, self-respect, loyalty, and responsibility. They have become scientific researchers; business owners, teachers who bring knowledge to the highlands... shouldering the "two roles" of national and family affairs.

Female engineers check product quality at Vicem Hoang Mai Cement Joint Stock Company. Photo: HV

Over time, no matter how much the standards of women change, women are still the "fire keepers" in each family, the ones who play an important role in maintaining happiness, and the strong support for their husbands and children. Ms. Le Thi Ninh (64 years old), Hamlet 9, Nghi Lien Commune, Vinh City confided: Her greatest joy is to cook for her husband and children delicious dishes every day, teach her grandchildren good things, and take care of the garden and fish pond in her free time. The good news is that currently in her family, all 3 generations live together, especially Ms. Ninh's 3 daughters-in-law, although living in the same house, are very harmonious and know how to take care of family life.

Talking about the role of women in the family, Mr. Le Ngoc Nam (65 years old), her husband, shared: The saying "Men build houses, women build homes" is very true for his family. When he was young, he joined the army, then transferred to work in the medical field, away from home for a long time. 3 young children, old and weak parents-in-law are all taken care of and shouldered by Mrs. Ninh alone. Without her diligence and sacrifice, his family would certainly not have complete happiness.

Along with the development of modern life, the traditional moral qualities of women have not changed but have been developed and upgraded into standard criteria in the new era, which are: confidence, self-respect, loyalty, and responsibility. They not only fulfill their roles as wives and mothers in the family but are also "good at national affairs" and excellently complete the tasks assigned by society. For example, Ms. Phan Thi Thuan - President of the Women's Union of Hung Tan commune (Hung Nguyen) has to shoulder "national and family affairs" alone. Her husband is a soldier in Dak Lak, and he comes back a few times a year, at most for a few days, a week, and then leaves. At home, Ms. Thuan has two young children: the eldest son is in 6th grade, the second daughter is just over 2 years old. Ms. Thuan's day starts at 4am and ends at midnight.

To be able to complete the work, she made a specific and detailed schedule for all three of them: from what time to do in the morning, what to feed the children, what time to pick up the son at noon, what time to take the son to extra classes in the afternoon, what time to pick up the daughter at kindergarten... to what to do today at the Association, which hamlet to go to to guide women in the procedures for borrowing capital to reduce poverty, where to participate in divorce mediation with other organizations, what time to attend training classes in the district... Ms. Thuan confided: "Many times I wanted to quit the Association's work, but the women trusted me and continued to participate. Being encouraged and motivated by my husband also warmed my heart, giving me more motivation to shoulder both roles."

In the past, coastal women often stayed at the foot of the waves, waiting for their husbands and children after their long trips at sea. Their lives were completely dependent on their husbands' sea trips. But today, coastal women have overcome difficulties, developed their professions, and become business owners of seafood production and processing workshops. Ms. Hoang Thi Hau (Block 4, Nghi Thuy - Cua Lo Town) - owner of a seafood processing facility, has a total income of 1 billion VND/year, providing jobs for 10 women with a salary of 4.5 to 5 million VND/month. Her concern is to strive to expand the scale of production further to create more jobs for women in the area.

Over time, women have gradually asserted their position, they can complete many different jobs and are not inferior to "men". Many women have become general directors, heads of agencies, chairmen of the board of directors... In particular, many have made a positive impression in scientific research; many women are leaders of topics and projects that are evaluated as excellent.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan - Head of the Department of Political Theory, Nghe An University of Economics said: "At work, women have more difficulties than men because no matter what job or position they do, women must first ensure family work, and resolve other relationships such as with relatives, friends, etc. However, I believe that with determination and the attention and facilitation of agencies and units, female intellectuals will overcome difficulties in terms of time to do management and scientific research."

Women in Quynh Dien commune (Quynh Luu) participate in producing rattan and bamboo products for export. Photo: Canh Yen

In the work of cadres, in the past term, with the specific and close instructions of the Party Committees and authorities at all levels, the quality and quantity of female cadres in the political system of our province has been increasing. Currently, 100% of female cadres leading and managing provincial departments and branches and female cadres leading and managing at district level have university degrees or higher; 100% have bachelor's degrees, advanced degrees in political theory and equivalent. The number of female cadres promoted and appointed at all levels and branches is increasing.

Since 2011, 100% of female cadres have been assessed as having completed their tasks well or better. This is the basis for our province to aim for increasingly higher targets for female cadres. The Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee has emphasized a number of targets to strive for from now until 2020, such as: The rate of women participating in political theory and state management training courses must reach 30% or more; The rate of female cadres participating in Party committees at all levels must reach 25% or more; The rate of women participating in People's Councils at all levels must reach 35% or more; 60% of departments, branches, and 100% of People's Committees at all levels have female leaders and deputy leaders.

President Ho Chi Minh once said: “Women are half of society. If we do not liberate women, we will not liberate half of humanity. If we do not liberate women, we will only build half of socialism.” Remembering Uncle Ho’s words, today, all levels and sectors are trying to help women “liberate” their family worries to firmly enter the period of international integration. And to fully shoulder the two roles of “national affairs and family affairs”, in addition to personal efforts, sympathy and sharing, the family needs the support of society.

Thanh Thuy