Gender equality from every family

From small things

At the divorce trial at the People's Court of Tu Ky district at the end of October, the young couple repeatedly stated the reasons why their marriage broke up after only 5 years of living together.

The wife insisted that her husband did not respect women. He was a patriarchal man who forced her to take on a lot of work, even though she had to work and take care of the children at the same time. Meanwhile, when he came home from work, he not only often gathered with friends to drink and come home late, but also often beat and scolded his wife and children. On the contrary, the husband complained that his wife was always critical, unsympathetic, and treated him like a useless person...

In hundreds of divorce cases each year at the Provincial People's Court, there are many families that break up because of gender inequality. Ms. Trieu Thi Loan, an official of the Hai Duong City People's Court, said that if there is frequent inequality and contempt in the family, conflicts and disagreements will arise and gradually lead to quick divorces. Therefore, according to Ms. Loan, equality, knowing how to love and share with each other in the family is the "key" to maintaining happiness and a lasting marriage.

In modern society, women have to participate in many social activities. Their work is no less busy than men's. If the husband does not support, share, and treat them unequally, the burden of work and family will gradually make women exhausted and easily lead to conflicts.

For Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang in Ai Quoc ward (Hai Duong city), equality in the family starts with small things. Knowing that his wife is busy selling goods, every time he comes home from work, Mr. Hoang takes the time to pick up his children, clean the house, and cook with his wife. Mr. Hoang said: “Many people often think that cooking and cleaning the house are women's jobs, but I don't think so. The family is a shared home for both husband and wife, and everyone has the responsibility to take care of and nurture it. “I always treat my wife equally, sharing even the smallest things, so she always respects me and is willing to support me in my work,” Mr. Hoang said.

In each family, equality comes not only from sharing work with each other but also from respect and understanding. In particular, the idea of ​​​​male superiority and female inferiority needs to be eliminated. At the discussion on gender equality organized by the People's Committee of Hai Duong province at the launching ceremony of the Month of Action for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in 2023 held on November 15, Ms. Pham Thi Phuong, Vice President of the Women's Union of Hai Duong province, said that eliminating gender stereotypes is also moving towards gender equality in each family. The idea of ​​​​giving birth to a son to continue the family line, favoring sons over daughters in the family will lead to gender inequality, affecting relatives in the family, especially women and children. According to Ms. Phuong, the family is the cell of society. If we want an equal society, the family must be the first place to do this well.

Limiting domestic violence

According to a survey by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in 10 provinces and cities in the Northern region earlier this year, most recent cases of violence stem from inequality in the family. Many husbands rely on being the stronger male, the breadwinner of the family, to "beat and punch" their wives whenever something is not to their liking... Meanwhile, many women are quite vague about their rights, accepting to endure and be abused.

According to Mr. Vu Hong Quan, Head of the Department of Child Protection, Care and Gender Equality (Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs), mutual respect between husband and wife will help reduce domestic violence. When equality is respected, the ideology of male superiority over female will gradually be eliminated and girls and women in the family will be better cared for and protected.

To build an equal environment in the family, limit violence and with the efforts of members in each family, the Government has also issued the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the period 2021-2030. One of the goals mentioned in this strategy is to reduce the average number of hours of unpaid housework and caregiving for women to 1.7 times that of men by 2025 and 1.4 times by 2030...

In addition, authorities at all levels, organizations, unions, especially the Women's Union at all levels, have been carrying out many activities to enhance the role of women, protect women and girls. Admitting honorary male members to the Vietnam Women's Union so that they can understand, share and respect women is also a good way to implement the national strategy on gender equality.

In modern society, both men and women are equal in building a home and doing well in social work. Sharing, sympathy, and respect for each other's equal rights will help each family be peaceful. Gender equality in each family is the foundation for building an equal, happy and developed society.