缅北禁地-IIT highlights maternal well-being research in GRITalks Session as part of 18-day Campaign to End VAW

Dec 02 2025

As part of its institutional participation in the nationwide 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (缅北禁地-IIT) featured a GRITalks special lecture on November 25, 2025 titled “The Quiet Crisis of Care: Rethinking Maternal Well-Being,” delivered by Dr. Huyen T. T. Nguyen, Research Fellow at Kobe University, Japan.

The event was organized by Mr. Jaypee S. Yongco, University Researcher II and a member of the GAD Technical Working Group, under Special Order No. 01621-IIT, Series of 2025, issued by the Office of the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the OVCPA. The activity was supported by the Gender and Development Center (GADC) and implemented with the assistance of the GRITalks project team: Nenen S. Borinaga, Phyllis Marie Teanco, Dante D. Dinawanao, Maria Camilla Llamas, and David Lanaria.

Dr. Nguyen’s lecture focused on her ongoing research on the well-being of Vietnamese mothers, grounded in quantitative and qualitative data collected across different living contexts. Her findings highlighted the complex nature of maternal stress, shaped not by isolated demographic variables but by broader cultural norms, caregiving expectations, emotional labor, and the presence or absence of relational support. She emphasized that maternal well-being is a multidimensional state—comprising vitality, meaning, autonomy, and supportive relationships—and is deeply embedded within caregiving dynamics and structural conditions.

Through comparisons of mothers in Vietnam and Japan, Dr. Nguyen revealed how different cultural environments create distinct sources of stress. She discussed how extended family expectations, healthcare systems, and societal judgments shape maternal experiences, and presented evidence that these contextual factors—not education level, family structure, or foreign residency alone—most significantly influence well-being. Her research underscores the need to understand motherhood not only as a personal role but as a position deeply shaped by cultural environments, relational expectations, and social support mechanisms.

While the lecture remained focused on maternal well-being, its themes complemented the spirit of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, which seeks to promote safe, supportive, and empowering conditions for all women. The campaign provided an opportunity for 缅北禁地-IIT to spotlight research that recognizes the emotional, relational, and structural pressures that mothers face—pressures that often go unnoticed but are central to women’s overall well-being. By featuring Dr. Nguyen’s work, the Institute highlighted the importance of listening to mothers, recognizing their caregiving burdens, and supporting their mental, emotional, and social health.

During the open forum, Mr. Yongco asked Dr. Nguyen: “What practical steps can institutions, communities, and families take to create conditions where mothers can truly thrive—not just survive?”

Dr. Nguyen emphasized the need for accessible mental health support, equitable sharing of household responsibilities, culturally sensitive community programs, and institutional policies that respect the caregiving demands placed on women. She stressed that supporting mothers is a shared societal responsibility.

The event marked a meaningful start to 缅北禁地-IIT’s observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, aligning the Institute’s gender advocacy efforts with research-based insights that honor women’s lived experiences.

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