My Reflection on Mulan

Taking a break from studying, I decided to rekindle my love for a childhood favorite: Mulan (1998).  Despite the fact that I could’ve had a few more hours of sleep if I didn’t watch the movie, it was definitely time well spent.  Now, closer in age to the character Mulan than I was when I first saw the movie, I have discovered how relatable she is, especially since I am Chinese as well.  I understand the different Chinese traditions and ideals, and can relate to them even though this movie takes place in medieval China.  Even in present times, the sons are always favored over the daughters because they are able to carry the family name.  My grandma still gets the family together for Chinese holidays, where we all have to pray to ancestors and pay respect to them by bowing three times while holding incense.

Mulan  in the Disney animation

Although I am all for this Disney princess movie, Mulan does have its fair share of critics. Juliane Fung disproves of the gender roles portrayed in Mulan, in her article, “Feminist and Queer Analysis of Disney’s Mulan.”  (http://mulananalysis.weebly.com)  She argues that Disney enforces stereotypical views on femininity through idea that “women can only bring honour to their families by becoming a bride: a servant to a man who is only there to pour tea and be gracious.”  She also refutes how the film demonstrates that a “woman’s main goal should be to find a husband, marry, and take care of the home,” which therefore discourages young girls from striving to be more than just a housewife and dependent on men.  However, medieval China was a very different time period than the present one.  In Mulan’s time, as described in “Chinese Culture in Mulan” (http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/5082/culture.html), a women’s main goal was to be the most suitable wife, “trained in household duties such as cooking, weaving, embroidery, and taking care of family members.” Changing these ideas that were central to the time period, would make the story as a whole a less accurate portrayal of what life was like during Mulan’s time.  Therefore, although I feel that the portrayal of woman was completely degrading, with remarks describing the ideal woman as “paler than the moon” and “it all depends on what she cooks like,” the desensitizing comments were justified.  The idealization of a paleness still exists today.  As a bridesmaid for my cousin’s Chinese wedding, I left it up to the Chinese wedding company to do my makeup and without even realizing it, they turned my naturally pale complexion into a white-powdered mess.  Though exaggerated in Mulan, I was able to relate to Mulan’s appearance towards the beginning of the film.

I would even argue to say that Mulan does the opposite of what Fung describes; Mulan challenges the standards and place of women in Medieval China.  For starters, she is brave enough to go to war for her country in place of her father, when women’s concerns mostly revolved around being a suitable wife and taking care of the family.  Secondly, she saves Shang’s life not once, but twice – and let’s not fail to mention she saved her entire country from the Huns.  Acting out of character, she defies the idea portrayed in the song “A Girl Worth Fighting for,” when Mulan says, “How about a girl who has a brain, who always speaks her mind?” and the soldiers reply, “nah.”  Ironically, what ends up saving all of China and is Mulan’s brain.  Thinking outside the box to initiate an avalanche that destroys the Huns, Mulan saves the lives of millions of innocent Chinese individuals.  Again towards the end of the movie, she saves everyone by finding a new way to enter the Empirical Palace.  While the men tried to use brute force and failed, Mulan looks at the situation from a different perspective.  After Mulan gains recognition from the emperor for saving China, the emperor says to Shang about Mulan, “The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all.  You don’t meet a girl like that every dynasty.”  Not only does Mulan prove that women are worth more than being refined to the household, but also the emperor acknowledges this and even comments that Mulan is special because she defies the standards of the typical woman of their time period.  Therefore, Disney shouldn’t be criticized for portraying the rudimentary life women had in Medieval China but should be lauded for recognizing and praising women who do push the boundaries.

The real-life depiction of Hua Mulan

To my surprise, the real-life Mulan received much less societal punishments or criticism than the Disney princess Mulan.  In the legend of Hua Mulan, she had to seek permission from her parents to join the army, but they were aware of her decision and her actions were seen as fulfilling a family duty, rather than the Disney version where Mulan had to sneak out and risked defiling her family’s name.  Also, in the legend, Mulan revealed her identity to her fellow soldier and all cheered for her, acting as if it was the greatest miracle they’ve ever witnessed.  This is strikingly different from the Disney version where she is seen as a traitor and a disgrace to her family and country.

Despite the criticism of the ideals present in Mulan and the differences from the real-life Mulan, I still enjoy the movie every time I watch it and I believe that it teaches young girls to work hard and compete with men, rather than become dependent on them.

Find out more differences between the legend and the Disney portrayal of Mulan at: https://dettoldisney.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/mulan-vs-the-legend-of-hua-mulan/

The Legend of Hua Mulan (left) vs. Disney Mulan (right)