From the beginning, women risked capture, torture, and death. This war also took a personal toll on female participants. Many women were torn between their duties to their families and their duties to their nation. The Communist Party encouraged women to hold off on love and marriage until after the war ended, which proved too late for many. Although the war is over, the Vietnamese are still struggling with malnutrition, disease, and environmental destruction.
Women face additional burdens such as limited educational opportunities and domestic violence.
Moreover, Vietnam's official histories ignore women's contributions to independence. Although many women paid a hefty price for their involvement in this war, Taylor cautions readers against viewing these women as victims. Throughout the book, Taylor depicts women's creativity. Vietnamese women also are actively preserving their past and aiding other women. Taylor leaves the reader with an image of women helping women in Vietnam.