An Analysis of Gender Roles in The Legend of Mulan (1998)

Summary
The story of Mulan originated from ancient China. Disney adapted it in the late 1990s,
and caused a global sensation. The film tells about how Mulan disguised herself into a
male to take her fathers role in conscription army, and finally helped the army to win
finally victory. As the oldest daughter in her family, Mulans parents wished her to
marry a good man, and failed to do so after many tries. At that time, Mulans country
was invaded by the Huns, so the royal court implemented mandatory conscription to
men in all families, including Mulans old and disabled father. Mulan did not want her
father to suffer from hardships in war, so she disguised into a male and join the army
in the name of her father. Mulan then passed many tough tests and became an
excellent soldier. Unfortunately, her female identity was exposed, so she was left by
the army. Finally, at the critical moment, Mulan appeared and helped the army to
defeat enemy.

Analysis
In ancient Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, civilization, war
strategy, justice, and law judged victory to Apollo who represented male view in the
Orestess matricide case, because she believed mother was not the origin of children.
In the myth, victory of males rationality principle ended up goddesses ruling, and
confirmed the superior position of patriarchy against matriarchy. Similarly, story
background of Mulan is feudal society in China, which is a typical patriarchal society.
At that time, there was a social norm of males managing external affairs and women
managing family affairs. In Greek mythology, Athena swore to never marry and
maintain her virginity, but Mulan could not do so.
Persuaded by her grandmother and mother, Mulan had to learn how to be a good
wife like all the other girls, in order to select a good husband from blind date. When
Mulan was tested by the matchmaker, she was a gazed object, and existed as a
subordinate to men. Mulan desired to win glory for her family, but she still possessed

strong self-consciousness and embraced freedom. For example, instead of following

social aesthetics, she chose to draw her eyebrows high. Later, Mulan performed bad
in the blind date and she was criticized by the matchmaker. She was upset that she
could not win glory for her family by marrying a good man, but she also began to
question herself who am I. Since that moment, Mulan gradually transformed from
yielding to the patriarchal society into being independent and pursuing self-value.
During wartime, Mulan determined to join the conscription army and take the place of
her father. When the film deconstructs the original theme of filial piety of Mulans
myth into universal family affection, Mulans motive to join the army is replaced by
winning honor for her family and proving herself. She was no longer a disguised hero
in traditional patriarchal culture, but a real heroine with the equal discourse power and
surviving opportunity as her male counterparts. Obviously, replacing her father to join
the army was a deviant behavior because it disobeyed the feudal and hierarchal order.
However, Mulan still chose to do so, which further highlighted value of
individualism.
During the war, Mulan made great contributions to the conscription army and the
royal court with her wisdom, diligence, courage, and strong will. In such a tough
environment, she survived and became performed better than other male soldiers. She
always helped the army to overcome all kinds of barriers and difficulties, which to
some extent is similar to what Athena did in The Odyssey. Athena appreciated
Odysseuss wit, so she always protected him during the entire wandering journey,
from reminding Zeus and other gods that Odysseus was detained by Calyposo in the
beginning to promoting Odysseuss reconciliation with nobleman in Ithaca in the end
of the book. In other words, Athenas metis is connected with wisdom of andras
through the wittiest Odysseus. Similarly, in the film, Mulans feminine wisdom and
courage is linked to masculine wisdom and courage through the war. In all, the film
reflects the cultural truth value that females can be as good as males, and further
advocates gender equality.

References
Classical Mythology textbook
The Odyssey
Lecture note on Athena