‘I want to take risks, like my mother’: Memory, affect, and Vietnamese masculinities – the legacy of gendered variations in socio-economic mobility duringÐổi mới

Men and masculinities studies in Vietnam: A brief review

“…However, in a more recent study exploring the political economy of the male body, Le (2012) argued that being the pillar of the family was not a role that men could take for granted. Rather, it was symbolic capital that men had to work hard to achieve, otherwise their wife could assume the role (Le, 2012; Martin, 2013). If this occurred, such men would be regarded as failures.…”

“…While numerous studies have explored notions of masculinity in rural areas, there are few scholars who have examined the experiences of men who reside in urban settings, including their perceptions of being a man in relation to the cultural, social and economic change that occurred following Đổi Mới (Hoang, 2014a,b; Martin, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017). In his ethnographic studies among young men in Hanoi (the capital city of Vietnam), Martin pointed out the “contradiction”, “ambivalence”, and “discontinuities” between young Vietnamese men's perception of masculinity and their practices in their daily lives (Martin, 2011, 2013, 2017). Young men wanted to reinforce the traditional notions of masculinity, as established by Confucianism and the ideals of Dương.…”

“…Young men wanted to reinforce the traditional notions of masculinity, as established by Confucianism and the ideals of Dương. However, they were “ambivalent to notions of male power and authority” (Martin, 2013, p. 210) by showing their respect and admiration to their mother's changing economic contribution to the family given their increasing role in the private economic sector after Đổi Mới . They also articulated that they did not feel that they experience privilege over young women (Martin, 2017).…”

“…More recent studies have noted that women from rural areas may migrate for employment to supplement household need; however, this will only occur if agricultural work is not providing sufficient income (Vu, 2015; Vu & Agergaard, 2012). Other women may begin to work in trades or household business (Horat, 2017; Martin, 2013). In both cases, women may become material providers, resulting in loss of time and capacity to engage in traditional caring duties, or perhaps gaining more power in their family structure (Hoang & Yeoh, 2011; Vu & Agergaard, 2012).…”

“…Regarding social and economic changes after Đổi Mới, scholars argue that a new kind of masculinity is forming, in which men want to maintain a traditional sense of masculinity (as articulated by Confucanians and Dương) but acknowledge the increasing role of women and question the notion that men should hold power and authority (Martin, 2010(Martin, , 2013. Most of these studies have focused on masculinity among men perceived as disadvantaged, such as those residing in rural areas or young men who have limited economic and social capital.…”