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Freedom writer: Writer Dam Phuong was among the first women in Southeast Asia to attempt to liberate women in the early 20th century. — File Photo |
ThUA THIEN-HUE — The Viet Nam History Association and Thua Thien-Hue Province's Journalists Association recently held a meeting to evaluate the contributions of the feminist writer and activist known as Dam Phuong (1881-1947).
The meeting was also held to prepare for a national scientific conference on the occasion of her 130th birthday in June. That conference was expected to gather around 200 researchers from around the country to further judge her contributions in various fields and make a plan to preserve and develop her legacy.
According to poet Nguyen Khoa Diem, Dam Phuong's grandson, his family holds a collection of 42 poems, 181 articles and short stories, and three novels written by Phuong, as well as valuable materials written by many contemporary authors about her life and work.
Many of the writings were aimed at guiding women in broadening their knowledge, bringing up children and freeing themselves from feudal thoughts of women as people only capable of doing housework.
Phuong was born Cong Nu Dong Canh to a family that traced its lineage to King Minh Mang (1791-1841). She was educated carefully in literature and the arts and was fluent in French. At age 20, she began to work as a tutor to the royal princess and her female servants.
Phuong later became known as a writer, poet and journalist. She was among the first Vietnamese novelists with her novel Kim Tu Cau, serialised in the magazine Trung Bac New Literature between May and July 1923.
In 1926, with the encouragement of patriot Phan Boi Chau, she opened the School for Women's Tasks, through which many Vietnamese women had the chance to integrate into society, doing work that only men could do before. She also wrote a series of articles educating women on child rearing and modern family management.
According to researchers, she was among the first women in Southeast Asia to attempt to liberate women in the early 20th century. — VNS