nguyễn thị định was born from a peasant family in bến tre province, and fought with the viet minh forces against the french. she was arrested and incarcerated by the french colonial authority between 1940–43, and helped lead an insurrection in bến tre in 1945, and again in 1960 (against the government of ngô đình diệm). in that period, she lost her first husband and child while incarcerated by french authorities. she was a founding member of the national liberation front (nlf). in 1965 she was elected chairwoman of the south vietnam women's liberation association, whom were given the name the "long-haired warriors" by ho chi minh. a portion of membership in the national liberation front continued to be women, and many were drawn to the promise of changes in the role of women in society.