LOCALIZATION OF FEMINIST THOUGHT IN EARLY TWENTIETH-CENTURY VIETNAM: A CASE STUDY OF THE NỮ CÔNG HỌC HỘI

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of the “localization of feminist thought” in early twentieth-century Vietnam. It analyzes this phenomenon through the case of the Nữ công học hội (1926), the first women’s organization founded and led by women. The study argues that feminist ideas, when introduced from the West, were not adopted intact but were translated and localized to suit the colonial–semi-feudal context of Vietnam. By examining the Nữ công học hội practical activities, it becomes evident that the organization embodied a distinctive model of localized feminism. Instead of directly confronting the patriarchal system, Nữ công học hội skillfully harmonized traditional feminine virtues with modern “female intellect,” thereby shaping the transformation from “domestic accomplishments” to the image of economically self-reliant women who actively participated in social activities. The findings affirm that although its influence was largely confined to urban areas and the intelligentsia, the Nữ công học hội played an important role in initiating a localized model of feminist thought in Vietnam. This foundation contributed significantly to the later development of the Vietnamese women’s movement in later decades.