Growing Alone (Tre Publishing House, 1989), I Want to Spread My Arms in the Sky and Shout (Writers' Association Publishing House, 1992) and Stay Up All Night and Dream (Literature Publishing House, 2004); (3) Tuyet Nga (1960) with 3 poetry collections: Writing Before My Age (Writers' Association Publishing House, 1992), Illusion (Writers' Association Publishing House, 2002) and Fourth Chestnut (Hanoi Publishing House, 2008); (4) Dinh Thi Nhu Thuy (1965) with 3 poetry collections: Going Through Summer Together (Literature Publishing House, 2005), The Other Side of the Bridge (Women's Publishing House, 2007) and The Day the Incense Blooms Brightly (Writers' Association Publishing House, 2011); (5) Le Ngan Hang (1971) with 3 poetry collections: The Car Carrying Seasons (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2003), Orient - On the Tree Canopies (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2006) and Harvest - The Crops Re-read the Pain (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2013); (6) Phan Huyen Thu (1974) with 2 poetry collections: Lying Sideways (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2002) and Empty Chest (Literature Publishing House, 2005); (7) Ly Hoang Ly (1975) with 2 poetry collections: White Grass (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 1999) and Lo Lo (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2005); (8) Binh Nguyen Trang (1977) with 2 poetry collections: Only You and the Crystal Vase Know (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2003) and The Flowers Are Meditating (The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2012); (9) Vi Thuy Linh (1980) with 5 poetry collections: Thirst (Writers Association Publishing House, 1999), Linh (Thanh Nien Publishing House, 2000), Dong Tu (Literature Publishing House, 2005), Vili in love (Literature Publishing House, 2008) and Double Film - Slow Love (Thanh Nien Publishing House, 2010) and (10) Truong Que Chi (1987) with the poetry collection I'm Growing Up (Tre Publishing House, 2005).
4. Methodology and research methods of the thesis
4.1. Research methodology of the thesis
In addition to the general methodology of social science and humanities research, to carry out this research topic, we determine the implementation based on the following specific methodological principles:
- Placing literature and art in the overall superstructure to see the relationship and mutual influence of literature and art with the infrastructure (economic base) as well as other elements in the structural system of social consciousness forms along with corresponding socio-political institutions (politics, law, science, philosophy, ethics, religion, etc.). Specifically, placing literature with feminist consciousness content in the relationship with the economic base along with the social consciousness system as well as corresponding socio-political institutions to see the cause of appearance as well as
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the development process of literature with feminist content in national literature;
- Flexibly apply Western theory , specifically feminist theory, in the practical study of Vietnamese literary life. We believe that applying and utilizing Western theory to explore national literature is necessary and can bring about interesting and useful scientific conclusions. However, this application needs to be flexible, avoiding extreme rigidity;
- Recognizing the levels of content as well as the artistic methods of expressing feminist consciousness in Vietnamese women's poetry from 1986 to present from the reality of the cultural, political and social life of the nation , within the perspective as well as the institutional framework of Vietnamese culture from traditional to modern. This approach helps the issues raised in the research process become more objective and honest, avoiding bias, prejudice, or full praise or full criticism.
4.2. Research method of the thesis
From the above methodological principles, to complete this study, we used a combination of the following main methods:
- Statistical and classification method: Statistical and classification of works by female authors according to each content developed in the thesis. The statistical and classification process is referenced from both quantitative criteria (in the arguments and evidence that are really necessary) and qualitative to make the proof of the arguments more convincing.
- Method of analyzing literary works: This is the method used throughout the thesis to explain as well as comment and evaluate the value of female poetry from the perspective of expressing feminist consciousness in both content and art. The analysis is based on a systematic approach to the entire work unit, combined with other factors such as era, trend, tendency and creative personality.
- Literary comparison method: This is a method used to compare the expression of feminist consciousness in each writer within the scope of the thesis survey when we find it necessary. Comparison will help the researcher see more clearly the creative personality characteristics of each poet in the movement of young poetry in general and women's poetry from 1986 to the present in particular.
- Literary typology method: Literary typology aims to point out the common characteristics of female poetry including content levels as well as some artistic methods expressing feminist consciousness. However, to avoid generalizing and forcing the issue, we also pay attention to the creative personality of each female writer as well as point out the unique points of each person in the general picture of a young creative force.
- Interdisciplinary research method: Recognizing and evaluating the expression of feminist consciousness in Vietnamese female poetry from 1986 to present in the context of history, international cultural integration in the past few decades, as well as in the general development of social consciousness, we apply knowledge of History, Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Law, Psychology, Sociology... to study the manifestations of feminist consciousness in the works of female poets from 1986 to present in both aspects of ideological content and artistic form.
5. New scientific contributions of the thesis
5.1. The thesis is the first scientific work to systematically raise and research feminism in Vietnamese women's poetry from 1986 to the present (through a number of typical cases). In particular, theoretical issues on gender, feminism, and the expression of feminist consciousness in Vietnamese women's poetry before 1986 have been clarified. In particular, the content and artistic levels of the expression of feminist consciousness in contemporary women's poetry from 1986 to the present have been surveyed, described, and summarized relatively fully.
5.2. The work will also be a useful reference for researchers and critics of modern Vietnamese literature.
6. Theoretical and practical significance of the thesis
- The topic has theoretical significance : A relatively complete overview of some important aspects in history as well as the most important contents of Western Feminist theory and especially how to apply this theory to the study of Vietnamese literary entities;
- The topic also has practical significance : From the perspective of feminist consciousness, we have made comments and assessments on the levels of content and artistic methods of Vietnamese women's poetry from 1986 to present (through some typical cases).
7. Structure of the thesis
The topic will be presented in accordance with regulations. In addition to the Introduction , Conclusion, List of author's research works related to the thesis topic, References , the main content is developed in 4 chapters:
- Chapter 1: Overview of the research situation and introduction of feminist theory and feminist consciousness (32 pages, from page 8 - page 39);
- Chapter 2: Feminist consciousness in Vietnamese women's poetry before 1986 (29 pages, from pp.40 - p.68);
- Chapter 3: Levels of expression of feminist consciousness in Vietnamese women's poetry from 1986 to present (47 pages, from pp.69-115);
- Chapter 4: Methods of expressing feminist consciousness in Vietnamese women's poetry from 1986 to present (25 pages, from pp.116 -140)
Chapter 1
OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH STATUS
AND THEORY OF FEMINISM, FEMINIST CONSCIOUSNESS
1.1. OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH STATUS OF THE TOPIC
Up to now, the application of feminist critical theory to literary research in Vietnam has been around for a certain period of time, which is a noteworthy point in the effort to innovate theoretical criticism to suit the appearance of Vietnamese literature in the renovation period. Surveying the system of reference documents, we found that the study of Vietnamese literature after 1975 from the perspective of feminism is relatively rich. Although there have been many opinions mentioning the feminist influence in the composition of some works by some authors, the number of long-term research works seems to be scarce. Faced with this reality, we try to select and review the opinions that are considered the most accurate, specific and suggestive for the topic with the following two groups of opinions: (1) Group of opinions discussing feminist consciousness in Vietnamese literature and (2) Group of opinions discussing feminist consciousness in contemporary Vietnamese women's poetry .
1.1.1. The situation of research on feminist consciousness in Vietnamese literature
In general, the study of feminist consciousness in Vietnamese literature has only really been conducted since the first decades of the 20th century until now. This research trend has also had ups and downs in development according to social consciousness as well as the development of the country's literature. The research object mainly revolves around two prominent genres of literature: poetry and prose. Specifically as follows:
1.1.1.1. From the beginning of the 20th century to before 1945
This is a pioneering period in the study of women's literature as well as feminist consciousness in Vietnamese literature. We can mention the works and articles of authors such as Phan Khoi, Manh Manh nu si (Nguyen Thi Kiem), Van Huong nu si, Nguyen Thi Hong Dang, Le Huong, Le Thi Huynh Lan, Dam Phuong nu si, Phan Thi Bach Van...
Phan Khoi is considered to have made outstanding contributions in mentioning the “female” literature and the relationship between women and literature through a series of articles published in the newspaper Phu Nu Tan Van such as: “ On the literature of Vietnamese women ” [85], “ Literature with female nature ” [86], “ Again speaking about the issue of literature with female nature ” [87]… In the article “ Literature and female nature ”, he wrote: “We have calm and patient personalities, using those personalities to study literature, there is nothing more suitable, perhaps we can pursue the literary profession more easily than men. There is also another suitable thing, that literature focuses on the path of emotions, and we are a species with more emotions than men, so it is very convenient for us” [87]. Here, Phan Khoi identified women with literature, because women are inherently the beauty that literature aims for. On the other hand, scholar Phan Khoi believes that, with their gentle and sensitive nature, women have great potential in literary creation. This opinion comes from the emotional perspective of “literary creative psychology” although at that time, the theory of feminist criticism in our country had not yet been established.
Nguyen Thi Kiem (with the pen name Manh Manh nu si) also expressed her views on women's literature through the article " Women and literature " published in Phu nu tan van , issue 131, May 26, 1932. In the article, she stated: "... the position of women in literature is not as low as many people think. And the influence of women on literati is also very heavy and profound, thanks to which literature has developed immensely" [88]. This opinion of the female writer somewhat coincides with the opinion of Phan Khoi. More importantly, this opinion comes from the consciousness of a woman, using the voice of women to affirm the position of her gender in the development of the country's literature. Not stopping there, she also said: "The wealth stored in that treasure, if it can be distributed by the pen of literature, then that literature is the image of the heart, sometimes normal, sometimes changing, sometimes safe, sometimes dangerous, depending on the stimulation of the external environment to rise and fall, and to follow the melody of nature to create harmony" [88]. This is the difference of literature that the female poet has specifically pointed out in terms of gender consciousness.
However, due to its appearance in the vibrant context of contemporary literature such as the New Poetry movement, the Tu Luc Van Doan novels, the “New Poetry and Old Poetry” debate, and due to the limited research object of women’s literature, this trend quickly faded into obscurity. It was not until recent feminist studies that the roles and contributions of the above authors were re-established.
1.1.1.2. From 1945 to 1975
Due to the special historical circumstances, the country was divided, so literature as well as literary theory and criticism activities in this period had special characteristics. In the North, due to the need to serve the revolution, encourage fighting, literature mainly had epic tones and romantic inspiration with socialist realism creative methods. Perhaps due to the emphasis on community strength, everyone as one, the awareness of gender and status was also identical to the awareness of citizenship, accordingly the issue of feminism was tacitly recognized at that time. And for a long time, the issue of studying women's literature, gender awareness or feminist voices did not attract the attention of researchers. In the South, the situation of feminist research in literature was also very vague, although the creative life was also rich and the viewpoint of the authorities also showed openness in importing many Western literary criticism theories. The study of women's literature in general and feminist consciousness in particular in this period still needs to be seriously researched with long-term monographs to be able to provide an objective and accurate view of the above-mentioned literary creation.
1.1.1.3. From 1986 to 1998
The issue of feminist consciousness in this period was rekindled by the opinions of Vo Phien, Truong Chinh, Phuong Luu...
In the book “ Overview of Southern Literature ” published in the United States in 1988, Vo Phien mentioned the existence of a female writing style in Southern literature from 1954 to 1975. He wrote: “From the gender perspective, Southern literature from 1954 to 1975 increasingly leaned towards women... At first, the literary world heard a deep voice, but in the end, it sounded ethereal” [152]. With this comment, author Vo Phien showed that he grasped the characteristics of poetic tone in the works of the writers.
female writers. This is one of the characteristics that researchers use to identify the writer's style. It is the "noisy in love" voice of Nguyen Thi Hoang's novels, the "bu lu bu loa" voice of Nha Ca's novels. However, this assessment as well as Vo Phien's analysis of the trend of female novels in Southern urban literature have not yet revealed the feminist or gender tone as a specific aspect.
In the article “ Reviewing the issue of women’s liberation in the novels of the Self-Reliant Literary Group”, published in the Literature Magazine , issue 5, 1990, researcher Truong Chinh highly appreciated the contribution of the Self-Reliant Literary Group on the issue of calling for women’s liberation and freedom of marriage. According to him, “The writers of the Self-Reliant Literary Group attacked many aspects of the feudal regime, especially feudal ethics towards women. They advocated freedom of marriage, freedom of love, and building family happiness on love between couples. They hated the situation of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, they advocated that young women were free to remarry, they exposed the hypocritical and cunning faces of stepmothers. They sided with those who opposed the old class. They sided with individuals against the family system” [17]. This comment by Truong Chinh pointed out the innovations in the perspective of the writers of Tu Luc Van Doan in defending modern women with progressive thoughts, not willing to conform to feudal etiquettes that were outdated at that time. However, Truong Chinh's opinion came from recognizing the progressive thoughts of Tu Luc Van Doan literature and he considered women as the central literary image of artistic discovery.
Notable in this period is the exchange of opinions between researchers such as Lai Nguyen An, Vuong Tri Nhan, Pham Xuan Nguyen, Dang Anh Dao on the issue of women's literature and female writers published in the Literature Magazine , No. 6/1996. The opinions mainly revealed the strengths and limitations of female writers in about 10 years (from 1986 to 1996). However, the opinions only stopped at identifying the team and achievements of female literature, while the issue of feminism was not yet discussed vigorously. This was only really discussed as a central issue for research in Phuong Luu's article titled "Thinking about the characteristics of female writers ".