Role of Women in Vietnam War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role of Women in Vietnam War - Essay Example Vietnam women contributed actively in different capacities during the period. According to Mobile Riverine Force Asociation [mrfa], about â€Å"7,484 women served in Vietnam, of whom 6,250 or 83.5% were nurses† and others were active combats in the war (1). Women also contributed in other areas such as supporting the agricultural sector so as to provide enough food for men who were busy fighting for independence. Despite the visible contribution of women during the War period, gender inequality was the major factor limiting their full contribution. According to De Anza College, the majority of women serving in the army as active combats were perceived as helpmates rather than counterparts (1). There were reports that even the female soldiers did not get fair treatment and some of them experienced sexual harassment. Other functions of women in the War included serving as couriers, patrol guides and activists to publicize various organizations. Women were also motivated to contr ibute to the war against foreigners in order to secure freedom and also fight for equality. Women also took advantage of gender stereotypes by foreigners to enable them to achieve their intended objectives such as maintaining the supply of food and other consumables to their male counterparts (University of Utah, 1). On the other hand, it is important to note that Vietnamese women roles in the war resembled the roles of women in other communist revolutions in the world. Comparing the revolutions in Vietnam, Cuba, Russia, and China, all women involved in the four revolutions had an aim of fighting for equality in the society. Therefore, most women from the four regions formed part of the activist groups that advocated for equality and women representation in all sectors including being part of the government.