Research on The Trend of Vietnamese Women’s Participation in Online Religious Activities with The Rise of Social Media
Abstract
In the context of globalization and social media, religions in Vietnam are undergoing significant transformation; this research focuses on examining the trends of Vietnamese Women’s Participation in Online religious activities. The collaboration between traditional religiosity and digital technologies has given rise to Online Religious Activities, enabling people to practice their beliefs in a new way. By applying desk research and sociological surveys, the aim is to examine the trend of Vietnamese Women’s engagement with religious content on social media. Results show that Vietnamese women prefer Facebook as the main platform; popular activities include watching and listening to sermons with a frequency of 1 to 3 times a week. Their main purpose is to strengthen religious knowledge. Based on these findings, the research group suggests three ways to assist Vietnamese religious organizations in adapting to digital development, maintaining harmony, and enhancing their status within the community. These solutions include (i) Solutions for managing Online religious practices, (ii) Solutions for organizing Online religious practices, and (iii) Solutions for the content of Online religious practices.
References
[1] Acquisti, A., Gross, R., & Stutzman, F. (2014). Privacy and human behavior in the age of information. Science, 347(6221), 509-514. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa1465
[2] Allcott, H., & Gentzkow, M. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), 211-236. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.2.211
[3] Barker, E. (2020). Virtual religiosity: The rise of online religious practices. Oxford University Press.
[4] Campbell, H. (2020). Digital religion: Understanding religious practice in online environments. Routledge.
[5] Cheong, P. H. (2021). Social media and religious community: An ethnographic study of online worship. Journal of Media and Religion, 20(2), 115-130.
[6] Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends”: Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143-1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x
[7] Government, (2023). Decree 95/2023/ND-CP date 29/12/2023 detailed policies about implementing laws for religions and faiths
[8] GSO, (2018). Religions and faiths categories. https://datacollection.gso.gov.vn/Data/Sites/1/media/huyvq/files/DanhMucTonGiao.pdf
[9] Hai., N.T., (2018). Buddhism in the digital age. Scientific and Technological Journal of Da Nang University, số 10(13`).2018. ISSN 1859-1531
[10] Hoover, S., (2021). The limits of online faith: Challenges of digital worship. Modern Religion Journal, 34(1), 56-72.
[11] Hoover, S., (2016). The Media and Religious Authority. University Park: Penn State University Press.
[12] Hutchings, T. (2014). Now the Bible Is an App: Digital Media and Changing Patterns of Religious Authority. In K. Granholm, M. Moberg, & S. Sjö (Eds.), Religion, Media, and Social Change. New York: Routledge.
[13] Hung., D.Q., (2006). Religion Globalization: Concept, manifestations, and challenges. Religions Research journal. Published 02-2006.
[14] Hung. D.Q., (2019). Materials for the seminar “Research about the impacts of religious phenomena on Women in the Red River Delta - current situation and solutions of Vietnam Women’s Union.”, date 22/8/2019 in Ha Noi
[15] Isetti, G. (2022). “Online You Will Never Get the Same Experience, Never” Minority Perspectives on (Digital) Religious Practice and Embodiment During the COVID-19 Outbreak. MDPI. Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/4/286
[16] Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
[17] MacWilliams, M., & Young, K. (2022). Religion in the time of COVID-19: How the pandemic has changed worship practices. Journal of Religious Studies, 49(3), 245-262.
[18] Mia LÖVHEIM Evelina LUNDMARK, (2019). Gender, Religion, and Authority in Digital Media. Journal for Communication Studies, vol. 12, no 2(24) / 2019 : 23-38 eISSN 1775-352X
[19] Mia Lövheim, (2022). Gender and Agency in Digital Religion, in Heidi A. Campbell, and Pauline Hope Cheong (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Digital Religion (online ed, Oxford Academic, 20 Oct. 2022), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197549803.013.12
[20] Minh., N.V., (2014).Emerging religious phenomena in Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s social science journal, date 11(84) – 2014
[21] MOHA, (2024). Guarantee Religion and faith’s freedom: A remarkable Year. Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam
[22] Nam., B.Q., (2022), Religious Affairs in the Thrive of Digital Information. Government Committee of Religious Affairs.
,https://btgcp.gov.vn/ton-giao/cong-tac-ton-giao-trong-boi-canh-bung-no-thong-tin-mang-hien-nay-postjvnJbYKnxp.html
[23] Nas, A. (2021). “Women in Mosques”: mapping the gendered religious space through online activism. Feminist Media Studies, 22(5), 1163–1178. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2021.1878547
[24] Ngoc., N.T.M., (2021).The Positive Impacts of Buddhism on Business Morals of Businessmen in Ha Noi, Social Science Journal, issue number 2 (154), 2021
[25] Thanh. P.V., (2024). Freedom of faith and religion in digital spaces. Journal of State Organization, ISSN 2815-6439
[26] Pew Research, (2010). The Global Religious Landscape. https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2014/01/global-religion-full.pdf
[27] Pham, H. D. (2022)The role of social media in changing religious awareness Vietnamese Women. Journal of science and technology
[28] Starkey, C., Tomalin, E., & Halafoff, A. (2022). Women, religion, and digital counter-publics: introduction. Journal of Contemporary Religion, 37(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2022.2030122
[29] Tran, L. A. (2021). Vietnamese Women’s participation trend in Online Religious activities. Reports of Institution of Religious and Culture Studies
[30] Thanh., P.V., (2024). Freedom of Religion and Faith in Digital Spaces. Journal of State Organization, ISSN 2815-6439
[31] Thuy. B.T., (2017). Current trends in the transformation of religion. Social Science - Vietnam, No 9 – 2017.
[32] Vis, F., van Zoonen, L., & Mihelj, S. (2011). Women Responding to the Anti-Islam Film Fitna: Voices and Acts of Citizenship on YouTube. Feminist Review, 97.
[33] We Are Social (2023). Digital 2023: Vietnam.
[34] We Are Social & Meltwater, (2024). Digital 2024: Vietnam.
[2] Allcott, H., & Gentzkow, M. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), 211-236. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.2.211
[3] Barker, E. (2020). Virtual religiosity: The rise of online religious practices. Oxford University Press.
[4] Campbell, H. (2020). Digital religion: Understanding religious practice in online environments. Routledge.
[5] Cheong, P. H. (2021). Social media and religious community: An ethnographic study of online worship. Journal of Media and Religion, 20(2), 115-130.
[6] Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends”: Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143-1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x
[7] Government, (2023). Decree 95/2023/ND-CP date 29/12/2023 detailed policies about implementing laws for religions and faiths
[8] GSO, (2018). Religions and faiths categories. https://datacollection.gso.gov.vn/Data/Sites/1/media/huyvq/files/DanhMucTonGiao.pdf
[9] Hai., N.T., (2018). Buddhism in the digital age. Scientific and Technological Journal of Da Nang University, số 10(13`).2018. ISSN 1859-1531
[10] Hoover, S., (2021). The limits of online faith: Challenges of digital worship. Modern Religion Journal, 34(1), 56-72.
[11] Hoover, S., (2016). The Media and Religious Authority. University Park: Penn State University Press.
[12] Hutchings, T. (2014). Now the Bible Is an App: Digital Media and Changing Patterns of Religious Authority. In K. Granholm, M. Moberg, & S. Sjö (Eds.), Religion, Media, and Social Change. New York: Routledge.
[13] Hung., D.Q., (2006). Religion Globalization: Concept, manifestations, and challenges. Religions Research journal. Published 02-2006.
[14] Hung. D.Q., (2019). Materials for the seminar “Research about the impacts of religious phenomena on Women in the Red River Delta - current situation and solutions of Vietnam Women’s Union.”, date 22/8/2019 in Ha Noi
[15] Isetti, G. (2022). “Online You Will Never Get the Same Experience, Never” Minority Perspectives on (Digital) Religious Practice and Embodiment During the COVID-19 Outbreak. MDPI. Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/4/286
[16] Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
[17] MacWilliams, M., & Young, K. (2022). Religion in the time of COVID-19: How the pandemic has changed worship practices. Journal of Religious Studies, 49(3), 245-262.
[18] Mia LÖVHEIM Evelina LUNDMARK, (2019). Gender, Religion, and Authority in Digital Media. Journal for Communication Studies, vol. 12, no 2(24) / 2019 : 23-38 eISSN 1775-352X
[19] Mia Lövheim, (2022). Gender and Agency in Digital Religion, in Heidi A. Campbell, and Pauline Hope Cheong (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Digital Religion (online ed, Oxford Academic, 20 Oct. 2022), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197549803.013.12
[20] Minh., N.V., (2014).Emerging religious phenomena in Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s social science journal, date 11(84) – 2014
[21] MOHA, (2024). Guarantee Religion and faith’s freedom: A remarkable Year. Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam
[22] Nam., B.Q., (2022), Religious Affairs in the Thrive of Digital Information. Government Committee of Religious Affairs.
,https://btgcp.gov.vn/ton-giao/cong-tac-ton-giao-trong-boi-canh-bung-no-thong-tin-mang-hien-nay-postjvnJbYKnxp.html
[23] Nas, A. (2021). “Women in Mosques”: mapping the gendered religious space through online activism. Feminist Media Studies, 22(5), 1163–1178. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2021.1878547
[24] Ngoc., N.T.M., (2021).The Positive Impacts of Buddhism on Business Morals of Businessmen in Ha Noi, Social Science Journal, issue number 2 (154), 2021
[25] Thanh. P.V., (2024). Freedom of faith and religion in digital spaces. Journal of State Organization, ISSN 2815-6439
[26] Pew Research, (2010). The Global Religious Landscape. https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2014/01/global-religion-full.pdf
[27] Pham, H. D. (2022)The role of social media in changing religious awareness Vietnamese Women. Journal of science and technology
[28] Starkey, C., Tomalin, E., & Halafoff, A. (2022). Women, religion, and digital counter-publics: introduction. Journal of Contemporary Religion, 37(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2022.2030122
[29] Tran, L. A. (2021). Vietnamese Women’s participation trend in Online Religious activities. Reports of Institution of Religious and Culture Studies
[30] Thanh., P.V., (2024). Freedom of Religion and Faith in Digital Spaces. Journal of State Organization, ISSN 2815-6439
[31] Thuy. B.T., (2017). Current trends in the transformation of religion. Social Science - Vietnam, No 9 – 2017.
[32] Vis, F., van Zoonen, L., & Mihelj, S. (2011). Women Responding to the Anti-Islam Film Fitna: Voices and Acts of Citizenship on YouTube. Feminist Review, 97.
[33] We Are Social (2023). Digital 2023: Vietnam.
[34] We Are Social & Meltwater, (2024). Digital 2024: Vietnam.
Authors
[1]
“Research on The Trend of Vietnamese Women’s Participation in Online Religious Activities with The Rise of Social Media”, Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 5395–5410, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.18535/sshj.v8i10.1395.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.