Today is the International Women’s Day, it seems to be a big day in Vietnam but I don’t know how the rest of the world celebrate this day. I will tell you the story of how my people celebrate the 8th of March.
The street is full of flower that is really, really beautiful. About 3 days before the 8th, men seem to be more caring, they prepare gifts and flowers for there female co-workers and their wives. It is a nice tradition, I think. But what I think more about is what happens after the day? When it is March 9th and any other days? Will a man care that much for his woman? Will he buy her flower and give her praise because she deserves, not just because of a reminder on Facebook or a phone tell him that. My ex-boss when he hear about the International Women’s Day for the first time, he asked me which day was that, what did it celebrate? and I said it was a Women’s Day and it was a day for women. You know what he said?
“It is bullshit. Why do you celebrate only 1 day, when women already have their days every month?” ( If you get what it means).
Then he continued: “If you love your women, just buy her some flowers everyday and tell her that you love her”.
That is when I think about what’s wrong with our people.
Anyone knows that International Men’s Day? or even you don’t know that day actually exist? (It’s Nov 9). It is a joke in Vietnam that every day is men’s day except for March 8th, the only day belongs to women. Comparing to other countries, Vietnamese women has quite better environment, they are allowed to go to school in almost every province, at least, for the most basic right, they get educated.However, if you look into a more subtle aspect of the life of Vietnamese women, they get a lot of discouragement both from their family and the society. I was told by many of my acquaintances that women shouldn’t learn too much, and shouldn’t not be smart because they can’t get a decent husband, and that they should get married before they turn 25 or 27 which is too old to find a good husband. I told them that I don’t and would never need that kind of men who doesn’t value a smart and independent woman, and I shut them up. There was another time, someone asked me if I got flower on the IWD or Valentine’s Day ( I don’t remember) and I told them, I would if I wanted to, I have money and I can buy for myself flowers and gifts whenever I want.
I was lucky because my family and my best friends always have my back. They support me on every things, from pursuing my dream to becoming financial independence. I have a mother who turn down any invitation from her friends for a blind date with their sons, a mother who told me to get married when I ready for it, otherwise, stay out of it. Since I was young, my mother taught me that education is your only way to have a better life, she was the one who taught me to love books and to value them. I have a sister, who has worked harder than anyone I’ve know to make her dream come true. I have a little sister, who never affair to stand for what is right, even it means she was against her home teacher. I have friends, who inspired me a lot, even Muslim tradition couldn’t stop her from becoming a biologist; a friend who doesn’t care about what others say about her hobbit, she stays loyal with what she loves. Maybe if I were alone, I couldn’t do any of it, but together, we are strong and stronger we help others.
At the end, HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!
Clara Le's Blog 