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Mulan Crushing the Patriarchy since 386 AD

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by Korrien Hopkins

https://www.flickr.com/photos/133626128@N05/28654878922

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of some downtime. Yeah… not really, but I decided take a break from the harsh realities and watch some good Hulu. While scrolling for literally two seconds I saw Mulan. Mind you, I was just talking to my roommate the other day how Mulan was my favorite Disney princesses; she’s one of the top three in my opinion. So, this was definitely fate. I loved Mulan so much a child. For starters Mulan embodies feminism, Mulan isn’t even really a princess at all; she was the hero of ALL of China! Watching the movie, I’ll admit I got very frustrated at the blatant body shaming and the gender roles that were portrayed in the film. In the beginning, Mulan was being prepared to be chosen as a bride for a potential suitor; this in itself is an example of women’s roles in feudal society. To bring honor to your family as a girl, the best you could do is become a wife “with good taste, calm, obedient, work at a fast pace, … and have a tiny waist,” the lyrics to “Honor to us all” stated. A girl must be obedient and must wait on her husband hand and foot to be a girl worth fighting for. Mulan overtly challenged those gender roles in her traditional culture. She risked her life for her father, she saved the Emperor and her boyfriend from death. Doing so proved that women can do what a man can do, and maybe even better. Mulan is an independent woman. She did everything by herself and did not rely on others, especially men. This film exposed Mulan as an individual pursuing and proving her self. She physically fights almost to the death for her family and to earn her own honor and respect. She saves the lives of her entire dynasty. Mulan is hardcore and progressive and very much so a feminist. The best part is Mulan was based on a true story. The original story of Mulan comes from the Chinese tale the Ballad of Mulan. The real-life Mulan was speculated to have lived during the Northern Wei dynasty (386CE–536CE) her story was first transcribed in the 6th century. This show that women around the world have been crushing the patriarchy for a very long time.

Excerpts from The Ballad of Mulan (Ode of Mulan)

Tsiek tsiek and again tsiek tsiek, Mulan weaves, facing the door. You don’t hear the shuttle’s sound, You only hear Daughter’s sighs. They ask Daughter who’s in her heart, They ask Daughter who’s on her mind. “No one is on Daughter’s heart, No one is on Daughter’s mind. Last night I saw the draft posters, The Khan is calling many troops, The army list is in twelve scrolls, On every scroll there’s Father’s name. Father has no grown‐up son, Mulan has no elder brother. I want to buy a saddle and horse, And serve in the army in Father’s place.”