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Vietnamese Feminism during the Vietnam War
It is a Vietnamese saying that “in times of war, even the women must fight.” Vietnam has a long history of female warriors. One example is the Trung Sisters who revolted against Chinese and set up and independent court in 40 C.E. (Turner 1998, xiii). Vietnam remained independent from 40 to 43 C.E. In 248 C.E., Ba Trieu (Lady Trieu Thi Trinh) organized an insurgency against the Chinese (Turner 1998, xiii). This ancient tradition of female nationalism and feminism in times of war carried on into modern times. Vietnamese women played many different roles during the Vietnam War and made significant contributions. It is estimated that “the total number of women in the regular army of North Vietnam (NVA), the militia and local forces, and the professional teams added up to almost 1.5 million" (Turner 1998, 20). From this estimate, it is believed that around “sixty thousand women joined the regular forces and thousands of professional women were sent government ministries, hospitals, and universities to lend their skills to the war effort” (Turner 1998, 20).  	Many women also participated in various youth organizations.  “How many young men and women worked in volunteer youth corps is a matter of dispute in Vietnam today.  Conservative estimates state that between 1965 and 1975 at least 170,000 young people joined, and that between 70 and 80 percent were women” (Turner 1998, 21).  Some local women stayed within their communities and joined their local militias.  These women “carried supplies and treated the wounded, and all the while maintained agricultural and industrial production at prewar levels” (Turner 1998, 21). The women were expected to both participate in the war effort and tend to their traditional roles in society. In North Vietnam, women helped construct and maintain the multiple trails that make up the Ho Chi Minh trail (Turner 1998, 3). Although many women made considerable contributions to the war effort, many women were never recognized for their efforts.

Trung Sisters 40-43 C.E.
In 40 C.E., the Trung sisters rebelled against the Chinese. “According to Chinese records, this woman ‘of brave and fearless disposition’ [Trung Trac] talked her husband and other local notables into rebellion. After driving out the Chinese authorities, she and her sister set up court in their birthplace, and she was recognized as queen by other local elites. She abolished taxes and suspended Chinese law for the two years she held power” (Turner 1998, 26). The sisters maintained Vietnamese independence from 40 C.E. to 43 C.E. They became symbols of patriotism, nationalism, and feminism, and their story was passed down through history. “Today throughout Vietnam city streets, temples, souvenirs, and a national holiday preserve their cult”m (Turner 1998, 26).

Lady Trieu 240 C.E.
“Lady Trieu, according to an eighteenth-century account was nine feet tall, with breasts three feet long. She was capable of killing a troublesome sister-in-law and strong enough to resist the entreaties of male relatives that she stay at home” (Turner 1998, 27). Sometime around 240 C.E., Trieu led Vietnamese troops into battle against the Chinese. “She rode into battle against the Chinese, perched on an elephant, her huge breasts slung over her shoulder" (Turner 1998, 27). Even though Trieu was a fierce warrior, she became associated with some “female sensibilities.”  According to some stories she was as brave as a man in battle, but as weak as a woman when confronted with dirt and chaos” (Turner 1998, 27). Her brother urged her to stay home and not fight, but Trieu could not be disparaged.  She responded, “I want only to ride the waves, slay the big whale of the Eastern Sea [China], clean up our frontiers and save the people from drowning.  Why should I imitate others, bow my head, stoop over, and be a slave? Why resign myself to menial housework?” (Turner 1998, 27). Trieu possessed a great deal of patriotic and feminist sentiment.  “Today she is one of Vietnam’s most beloved heroines” (Turner 1998, 27).