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By “socially progressive”, I am referring to the things we usually refer to when it comes to social progress: acceptance of LGBTQ+, rights for women, anti-racism, respect for youth and elderly, etc.
By “conservative”, it would mean opposition to such advances in social progress.
When it comes to LGBT, we are generally quite indifferent to it. It is not our jobs to interfere in other people’s business. That was my impression of our social attitude towards queer people.
Legally speaking however, our laws are still behind in some aspects, such as not yet recognizing same-sex marriage, but it does not ban it either. Same-sex couples are allowed to held symbolic weddings as well as living together under the same roof. It’s just that they won’t enjoy the same legal rights and obligations as required for hetero couples. But fret not, our laws are getting more and more open, it was more open in the 201X than the 200X, and it will not doubt be more open in the future.
Women rights
The Communist Party of Vietnam in all its time of existence has been tirelessly advance women right and gender equality. I can confidently say that right now, I can feel no social discrimination between men and women. Women occupy just as many jobs as men do. In my household, my father and my mother are equal in decision making.
Anti-racism
I don’t think racism is relevant to Vietnam.
But we do have ethnic minorities (I am of Nùng ethnicity, while the overwhelming majority of Vietnamese population is of Kinh). Ethnic minorities often receive favorable aids from the government in term of poverty eradication and education.
Respect for youth and elderly
Our culture inherits Confucian elements, and our government encourages positive traits such as filial piety while discouraging negative traits that are no longer compatible with modern time and socialism.
As a Chinese person, I can share my own observations from both online and real life:
LGBTQ+
There is almost no public promotion of LGBTQ+ issues in China. LGBTQ+ individuals are not considered a mainstream group, and most people are indifferent to them. Online, many references to LGBTQ+ are just jokes or memes meant to entertain, not necessarily to mock the community. For instance, phrases like “Bro, you smell so good” are popular online jokes. In real life, if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn’t really matter to most people; everyone has their own life. However, if LGBTQ+ individuals try to date heterosexuals, it usually leads to discomfort. If a child wants to identify as LGBTQ+, it depends on their parents, and most parents do not approve. Also, since LGBTQ+ concepts are seen as coming from Western countries, some LGBTQ+ individuals who are perceived as overly admiring Western culture can face backlash. Chinese public opinion generally acknowledges heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality, but concepts like “72 genders” and “gender fluidity” are seen as incomprehensible. Phrases like “My gender is an attack helicopter, and I want to screw a tank” are commonly used to mock the plethora of gender identities in the West.
Women’s Rights
As a socialist country, women’s rights are well-protected in China. Prostitution is illegal (to combat human trafficking). In stable government jobs, women make up a large proportion. However, there are some peculiarities: women have maternity leave, and some declare pregnancy right after being hired to receive paid maternity leave and then resign afterward. In government jobs, some women may claim they cannot handle the workload and pass their responsibilities to male colleagues or other female colleagues, leading to a form of hidden hiring discrimination in some companies and government units.
Anti-Racism
Chinese people generally focus on a person’s actions rather than their race. Discrimination tends to be based on an individual’s behavior, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Ethnic minorities in China receive preferential treatment, with special funds to promote their traditional cultures and extra points on college entrance exams. However, as the economic conditions of some minorities have become comparable to the Han majority, places like Shandong are considering abolishing these extra points. Ethnic minorities like Tibetans and Mongolians also have the option to take their college entrance exams in their native languages. During my university years, Mongolian students often joked that they didn’t ride horses to school.
Respect for Youth and the Elderly
I don’t quite understand the concept of “respecting the youth.” Is it similar to bowing to someone in Japan? In China, as the birthplace of Confucianism, respecting the elderly and caring for the young are considered traditional virtues and are commonly practiced in daily life. However, due to the “Peng Yu case,” where a judge asked, “If you didn’t knock the old person down, why did you help them up?” many people are now wary of helping fallen elderly individuals for fear of being extorted (which has happened multiple times). Such extortionists are referred to as “taking advantage of their old age.”
Gender fluidity has been acknowledged by most human societies going back thousands of years though. It’s disappoint but slightly understandable that people in China use “helicopter” jokes, but the “I want to screw a tank” is funny AF
“72 genders” is incomprehensible to me too, and I believe that it is incomprehensible and illogical to most people in the world who are not familiar with the West.
The crux of the issue lies in the separation of the concept “gender” and “sex”. Wheras “sex” is material and observable, “gender” (as defined by Western leftists[1]) is anything but. It is measured by having the person “identifies” themselves as one.
But if a concept is not observable and not material, how is it different from a god? Should we, who adhere to dialectical materialism and scientific principals, see it as anything of worth?
Or maybe I am wrong, maybe the fluid gender can be objectively measured as a material concept with observable effects. If you think I’m wrong, please explain.
Western leftists are Westerners who identify themselves as leftists. They are not necessarily our comrade. ↩︎
Thank you for answering my question. Many Chinese people judge Western gender diversity issues based on reproductive organs, which leads to widespread misunderstandings. Additionally, when we watch international news, we often see cases where some individuals exploit gender diversity to evade legal consequences, exacerbating the negative perception of gender diversity. Because news needs to attract viewers, those who lawfully live within gender diversity are often overlooked, resulting in the stigmatization of gender diversity.
In my opinion, the issue of gender diversity is an attempt to answer “Who am I?” This indeed falls within the realm of personal spirit. But as you know, people have subjective initiative. When someone identifies as a gender-diverse individual and takes action, their behavior can be observed and is material. Just like with God, no one has seen or touched God; God seems to exist only as a concept passed down orally and retained in people’s minds. However, God’s believers are real people in life, and they deeply influence the world. Historically, there were events like the Crusades, and in modern times, there are large-scale pilgrimages to holy cities and global anti-terrorism wars resulting from extreme religious beliefs. These events affect us on a material level. While God may hold no value to materialists, God holds great value to believers. Therefore, listening to believers’ needs and guiding their productivity towards promoting social development is meaningful to materialists.
In my view, your comparison of gender diversity with God is correct, as both attempt to answer the ultimate questions of “Who am I?” and “Where am I going?” This is also why strong suppression of gender diversity is bound to be harmful, as such suppression essentially denies an individual’s independent personality.
Due to 1) the ancient Chinese concept of people’s livelihood, 2) the influence of the October Revolution on modern China, and 3) the deep-rooted image of the Communist Party of China in China, most Chinese people have a different perspective on leftism. They believe leftists are more inclined to be: 1) willing to eliminate poverty in a practical way (not by making empty promises), 2) honest and upright, and 3) willing to fight against social injustice, similar to Lenin’s concept of the “vanguard of the proletariat.” More radical individuals believe that communists and leftists abroad fighting social injustice through protests and demonstrations are somewhat “playing house.” They think people should arm themselves and directly overthrow the government (which I find impractical and contrary to Lenin’s “three elements of revolution”). Leftism in China is generally viewed positively, but it can be said that there are various factions, just as the Russian Revolution was divided into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
By “socially progressive”, I am referring to the things we usually refer to when it comes to social progress: acceptance of LGBTQ+, rights for women, anti-racism, respect for youth and elderly, etc.
By “conservative”, it would mean opposition to such advances in social progress.
I’m not the best at wording this.
I can’t speak for China, only Vietnam.
LGBTQ+
When it comes to LGBT, we are generally quite indifferent to it. It is not our jobs to interfere in other people’s business. That was my impression of our social attitude towards queer people.
Legally speaking however, our laws are still behind in some aspects, such as not yet recognizing same-sex marriage, but it does not ban it either. Same-sex couples are allowed to held symbolic weddings as well as living together under the same roof. It’s just that they won’t enjoy the same legal rights and obligations as required for hetero couples. But fret not, our laws are getting more and more open, it was more open in the 201X than the 200X, and it will not doubt be more open in the future.
Women rights
The Communist Party of Vietnam in all its time of existence has been tirelessly advance women right and gender equality. I can confidently say that right now, I can feel no social discrimination between men and women. Women occupy just as many jobs as men do. In my household, my father and my mother are equal in decision making.
Anti-racism
I don’t think racism is relevant to Vietnam.
But we do have ethnic minorities (I am of Nùng ethnicity, while the overwhelming majority of Vietnamese population is of Kinh). Ethnic minorities often receive favorable aids from the government in term of poverty eradication and education.
Respect for youth and elderly
Our culture inherits Confucian elements, and our government encourages positive traits such as filial piety while discouraging negative traits that are no longer compatible with modern time and socialism.
As a Chinese person, I can share my own observations from both online and real life:
LGBTQ+ There is almost no public promotion of LGBTQ+ issues in China. LGBTQ+ individuals are not considered a mainstream group, and most people are indifferent to them. Online, many references to LGBTQ+ are just jokes or memes meant to entertain, not necessarily to mock the community. For instance, phrases like “Bro, you smell so good” are popular online jokes. In real life, if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn’t really matter to most people; everyone has their own life. However, if LGBTQ+ individuals try to date heterosexuals, it usually leads to discomfort. If a child wants to identify as LGBTQ+, it depends on their parents, and most parents do not approve. Also, since LGBTQ+ concepts are seen as coming from Western countries, some LGBTQ+ individuals who are perceived as overly admiring Western culture can face backlash. Chinese public opinion generally acknowledges heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality, but concepts like “72 genders” and “gender fluidity” are seen as incomprehensible. Phrases like “My gender is an attack helicopter, and I want to screw a tank” are commonly used to mock the plethora of gender identities in the West.
Women’s Rights As a socialist country, women’s rights are well-protected in China. Prostitution is illegal (to combat human trafficking). In stable government jobs, women make up a large proportion. However, there are some peculiarities: women have maternity leave, and some declare pregnancy right after being hired to receive paid maternity leave and then resign afterward. In government jobs, some women may claim they cannot handle the workload and pass their responsibilities to male colleagues or other female colleagues, leading to a form of hidden hiring discrimination in some companies and government units.
Anti-Racism Chinese people generally focus on a person’s actions rather than their race. Discrimination tends to be based on an individual’s behavior, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Ethnic minorities in China receive preferential treatment, with special funds to promote their traditional cultures and extra points on college entrance exams. However, as the economic conditions of some minorities have become comparable to the Han majority, places like Shandong are considering abolishing these extra points. Ethnic minorities like Tibetans and Mongolians also have the option to take their college entrance exams in their native languages. During my university years, Mongolian students often joked that they didn’t ride horses to school.
Respect for Youth and the Elderly I don’t quite understand the concept of “respecting the youth.” Is it similar to bowing to someone in Japan? In China, as the birthplace of Confucianism, respecting the elderly and caring for the young are considered traditional virtues and are commonly practiced in daily life. However, due to the “Peng Yu case,” where a judge asked, “If you didn’t knock the old person down, why did you help them up?” many people are now wary of helping fallen elderly individuals for fear of being extorted (which has happened multiple times). Such extortionists are referred to as “taking advantage of their old age.”
Gender fluidity has been acknowledged by most human societies going back thousands of years though. It’s disappoint but slightly understandable that people in China use “helicopter” jokes, but the “I want to screw a tank” is funny AF
Thank you. This was very informative
“72 genders” is incomprehensible to me too, and I believe that it is incomprehensible and illogical to most people in the world who are not familiar with the West.
The crux of the issue lies in the separation of the concept “gender” and “sex”. Wheras “sex” is material and observable, “gender” (as defined by Western leftists[1]) is anything but. It is measured by having the person “identifies” themselves as one.
But if a concept is not observable and not material, how is it different from a god? Should we, who adhere to dialectical materialism and scientific principals, see it as anything of worth?
Or maybe I am wrong, maybe the fluid gender can be objectively measured as a material concept with observable effects. If you think I’m wrong, please explain.
Western leftists are Westerners who identify themselves as leftists. They are not necessarily our comrade. ↩︎
Thank you for answering my question. Many Chinese people judge Western gender diversity issues based on reproductive organs, which leads to widespread misunderstandings. Additionally, when we watch international news, we often see cases where some individuals exploit gender diversity to evade legal consequences, exacerbating the negative perception of gender diversity. Because news needs to attract viewers, those who lawfully live within gender diversity are often overlooked, resulting in the stigmatization of gender diversity.
In my opinion, the issue of gender diversity is an attempt to answer “Who am I?” This indeed falls within the realm of personal spirit. But as you know, people have subjective initiative. When someone identifies as a gender-diverse individual and takes action, their behavior can be observed and is material. Just like with God, no one has seen or touched God; God seems to exist only as a concept passed down orally and retained in people’s minds. However, God’s believers are real people in life, and they deeply influence the world. Historically, there were events like the Crusades, and in modern times, there are large-scale pilgrimages to holy cities and global anti-terrorism wars resulting from extreme religious beliefs. These events affect us on a material level. While God may hold no value to materialists, God holds great value to believers. Therefore, listening to believers’ needs and guiding their productivity towards promoting social development is meaningful to materialists.
In my view, your comparison of gender diversity with God is correct, as both attempt to answer the ultimate questions of “Who am I?” and “Where am I going?” This is also why strong suppression of gender diversity is bound to be harmful, as such suppression essentially denies an individual’s independent personality.
Due to 1) the ancient Chinese concept of people’s livelihood, 2) the influence of the October Revolution on modern China, and 3) the deep-rooted image of the Communist Party of China in China, most Chinese people have a different perspective on leftism. They believe leftists are more inclined to be: 1) willing to eliminate poverty in a practical way (not by making empty promises), 2) honest and upright, and 3) willing to fight against social injustice, similar to Lenin’s concept of the “vanguard of the proletariat.” More radical individuals believe that communists and leftists abroad fighting social injustice through protests and demonstrations are somewhat “playing house.” They think people should arm themselves and directly overthrow the government (which I find impractical and contrary to Lenin’s “three elements of revolution”). Leftism in China is generally viewed positively, but it can be said that there are various factions, just as the Russian Revolution was divided into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
Thank you for your answer. It was both excellent and humbling. I realize now that my discipline in dialectical materialism has been lacking.