According to the research ‘The Soft Power and Everyday Lives of Women in Contemporary Vietnam’ by Nguyen Thi Tu Anh, ‘Hau Dong’ ritual empowered women in a distinctive way and helped them to become more happy, independent and to gain more freedom in their life. The Incarnation represents 5 animated paintings to illustrate the main findings about the connection between the Hau Dong ritual and women’s empowerment in the past.
THE BOOSTER FOR SELF-ESTEEM
During the incarnation's progress, it is a custom that the medium would receive praises and compliments from her audiences for her performance, which had become a confidence-booster for the medium herself. The most popular lyrics in ‘Chau Van', the distinctive music genre which is only used for this ritual are praises and encouragement words like “She is so beautiful" or “Please stay merry!”. When the ceremony ends, the energy from praise and encouragement words still stays inside her. That energy helps the mediums to remain her confidence and improve her self-esteem.
THE CELEBRATION OF PERSONAL IDENTITIES
The Hau Dong ceremony gives the mediums the chance to act as Goddess through the incarnation progress, which allows them to express their hidden personalities, especially those traits that they are not allowed to present in daily life. For example, a woman is not supposed to be masculine according to the social norm in Vietnam, but it is totally acceptable in the ritual, if her body is being a medium to let a God goes through and communicate to all other prayers. She can reveal her courageousness, her charisma, her appeals or even her masculinity. People would respect and honour her behaviours because it is believed that the God and deities are staying inside her, giving the blessing to everyone. This is not something happen in normal life, outside of the shrine.
THE CELEBRATION OF PERSONAL IDENTITIES
The Hau Dong ceremony gives the mediums the chance to act as Goddess through the incarnation progress, which allows them to express their hidden personalities, especially those traits that they are not allowed to present in daily life. For example, a woman is not supposed to be masculine according to the social norm in Vietnam, but it is totally acceptable in the ritual, if her body is being a medium to let a God goes through and communicate to all other prayers. She can reveal her courageousness, her charisma, her appeals or even her masculinity. People would respect and honour her behaviours because it is believed that the God and deities are staying inside her, giving the blessing to everyone. This is not something happen in normal life, outside of the shrine.
THE SENSORY ESCAPISM
The atmosphere of a ceremony is very much like a musical concert, but in a sacred way, with the combination of songs, music, the dancing, the smell of incense and cigarette, people giving applause to each performance. The success of a ceremony is measured by the satisfaction level of all people who joined. While attending the ceremony, all the prayers got the chance to forget about their burden and responsibility in real life for a short time and enjoy the religious festive event, with lots of passion and engagement.
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
By being involved in this practice, the prayers found their peers with the same religion. They became a group of close friends who share the same belief for Mother Goddess and support each other not only in the ritual but in daily life as well. Some women taking part in the Hau Dong ritual later became soulmates for life or business partners. By hosting together a successful spiritual possession ceremony, people realize which person they can vibe-in together. When a ceremony ends, the women leave the shrine with a group of friends who are willing to empower and support each other at their best capacity.
