Vietnamese people create modern fairy tales for equal future

The competition, called “Generation Equality’’, starts from 17 October 2019 and will run until 27 November 2019.

The winner will have a chance to work with a professional team to develop their stories into a comic book or a video animation. The competition is part of activities to commemorate the Vietnamese Women’s Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign 2019 and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2020.

In many fairy tales and bedtime stories for example: the story of Tấm and Cám, Thach Sanh, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty etc., girls have been portrayed as beautiful, weak, dependent and focused on developing skills which reinforce their socialized roles in the private domain, such as cooking, child care and hygiene. As for boys, they have been prepared for dominant and high-command roles that determine societal dynamics in the public sphere. These include, among others, responsibilities in the army and other leadership roles – activities often requiring intelligence, wisdom, and strength. Therefore, oral literature has served as a means to reinforce gender stereotypes.

It is now time to create modern fairy tales and bedtime stories that help realize women’s rights and promote equality between men and women, boys and girls and other gender minorities. The competition aims to highlight women and girls' value and talent and raise awareness among inpiduals, especially youth, in Vietnam, on the role that they can play in breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting gender equality.

The competition aims not only to empower women and girls and reduce gender inequalities in literature, but also to be a platform for future generations to access to literary texts with gender equality messages and break down the systemic barriers and social norms that hinder women’s and men’s, boys’ and girls’ enjoyment of their full potential and capabilities.

The organisers will award a first prize worth VND 15 million, a second prize worth VND 10 million, a three third prize worth VND 7 million and two consolation Prizes worth 5 million VND each.

The entries, each not exceeding 2,000 words, will be submitted to UN Women Vietnam’s address at 304 Kim Ma, Hanoi, or email: unwomen2010@gmail.com./.