Question

what was the role of women in the anti imperial struggle in Vietnam

Answer 1

Writers and political thinkers begin idealizing women who rebelled against social norms.
This rebellion against conventions marked the arrival of the new women in Vietnamese society.
They were depicted in paintings, plays and novels as representing a strong will and deep patriotism.
Example: Trieu Au, play by Phan Boi Chau in 1913 on the lives of the Trung Sisters.
In the 1960s they helped in nursing the wounded, constructing underground rooms and tunnels and fighting the enemy.
Along the Ho Chi Minh Trail young women volunteers kept open 2,195 km of strategic roads and guarded key points.
They helped build six air strips, and neutralized tens of thousands of bombs.
Between 1965 and 1975 nearly 80% of the people who worked on the Ho Chi Minh trail were women. They helped carry cargo, Food, weapons and shot down planes. Example: Nguyen Thi Xuan.
The women’s role was one of indomitable will, intense patriotism and of brave fighters.
They carried rifle in one hand and hammer in the other.

Answer 2

A new image of womanhood emerged in Vietnam during 1960s .

Writers and political thinkers began idealising women who rebelled against social norms:

In 1913, the nationalist Phan Boi Chau wrote a play based on the lives of the Trung sisters who had fought against Chinese domination in 39-43 CE.
One of the most venerated was Trieu Au who lived in the third century CE. She organised a large army and resisted Chinese rule. She became a martyr who fought for the honour of the country. Nationalists popularised her image to inspire people to action.
Media portrayed women as warriors:

Women as Warriors: In the 1960s, there were pictures showing women militia shooting down planes. They were portrayed as young, brave and dedicated.
One Nguyen Thi Xuan, could single-handedly killing the enemy
Women were represented not only as warriors but also as workers:

They were shown with a rifle in one hand and a hammer in the other.
Women joined the struggle in larger numbers. Many women responded and joined the resistance movement.
They helped in nursing the wounded, constructing underground rooms and tunnels and fighting the enemy. Between 1965 and 1975, of the 17,000 youth who worked on the trail, 70 to 80 per cent were women. One military historian argues that there were 1.5 million women in the regular army, the militia, the local forces and professional teams.