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Women around the world: Vietnam

April 24, 2017

In collaboration with EyeEm, DW invited photographers to share images that offer an insight into the lives of women around the world. This one was taken in northern Vietnam by Kevin J. Short.

https://p.dw.com/p/2adEG
Women around the world
Image: Kevin J Short

DW: Where and when did you take the picture?

Kevin J. Short: This photo was taken in Sapa in northern Vietnam.

Who is in the picture?

The woman in the photo is named Su Linh. She is part of the Hmong tribe, which is one of the many ethnic minorities found in the hills of the Sapa region. She was our trekking guide for 3 days while we were exploring the area.

What inspired you to take it?

Su Linh was incredibly photogenic. I took many shots of her during our time together. She was energetic, funny, and wore such beautiful hand-made clothing typical of Hmong women. In this picture, she was showing us how to use the traditional weaving machine that produces many of the fabrics she wears. It was taken in her mother’s shop, with a lovely display of her other wares on the wall behind.

What does your image say about the culture of women in the country where it was taken?

Right now women in Sapa are empowered by the new wave of tourism the area is experiencing. Traditionally most people in the region were farmers, with the men doing lots of heavy lifting and an individual’s worth being equal to how much physical work they could handle.

But now tourists are coming for trekking excursions, and women are the ones who are learning English and setting up tour companies. Su Linh is a great example of this… she is incredibly intelligent, learned English on her own, and now has a great reputation running her own small tour company.

How important are gender issues to you personally?

Gender equality is important to me. I have a mother, a sister, a lovely girlfriend, and many other women in my life who I care about deeply. Without their love and compassion, my life would be very different. I am always concerned for their well-being.

How important do you feel they are in the country where your image was taken?

Gender issues are highly discussed in my country (USA), especially with the current political climate. There is always work to be done, no matter which country you are in, to help progress women’s rights and the treatment of women.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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