“Women were represented as warriors as well as workers in Vietnam in the 1960s.” Analyse the statement with examples.
Women were represented as warriors as well as workers in Vietnam in the 1960s as mentioned below : Photographs in magazines and journals showed women as brave fighters. There were pictures of women militia shooting down planes. They were portrayed as young, brave, and dedicated. They were shown as very happy while joining the army and could carry a rifle. Some stories spoke of their incredible bravery in single-handedly killing the enemy – Nguyen Thi Xuan, for instance, was reputed to have shot down a jet with just twenty bullets. Women were represented as workers too as mentioned below : They were shown with a rifle in one hand and a hammer in the other. Whether young or old, women began to be depicted as selflessly working and fighting to save the country. As casualties in the war increased in the 1960s, women were urged to join the struggle in large numbers. Many women joined the resistance movement. They helped in nursing the wounded, constructing underground rooms and tunnels and fighting the enemy. They took significant part in Hochi Minh Trail. One military historian argues that there were 1.5 million women in regular army, the militia, the local forces and professional teams.
