The exhibit “Global Guytalk” is a part of an initiative hosted by the Swedish Institute and the nonprofit Swedish foundation Make Equal, which builds forums for Swedish men to engage in conversations about issues such as love, respect, responsibility, and emotional well-being. The exhibit incorporates narratives from Swedish men sharing feelings and personal stories about things that men rarely talk about. These stories provide insight into how gender norms and expectations impact men globally and how better understanding these roles can help promote more empathy for men and contribute to gender equal societies.

It is meaningful that the exhibit launch and opening ceremony took place on International Women’s Day, March 8, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and promoting social development and gender equality. “It is exciting to launch the initiative in Vietnam today. The aim is to give men the chance to participate in conversations about norms and expectations for them and how they can contribute to creating a more equal society,” said Swedish Ambassador Ann Måwe at the opening of the event. This exhibit is expected to be the starting point to encourage Vietnamese men to participate in similar forums to share men’s issues as well as to help promote gender equality in Vietnam.

As a part of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and a vital media channel of VWU, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum (VWM) is committed to raising awareness and improving understanding of gender issues through a variety of thematic exhibitions that highlight social issues as well as through events with international organizations that focus on gender multidimensional themes. Engaging in initiatives related to gender and promoting gender equality through this kind of event will help the museum explore creative new ways to communicate about gender issues and gender equality and develop future exhibitions, events, and educational activities.

Global Guytalk is open to the public from March 8 until March 14, 2021 on the ground floor of the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

Some photos from the opening ceremony: