SM, on "Step by Step "

Commentary: I chose to use Mulan as my video representation for feminism in Disney movies for two reasons. The first of which is that Mulan greatly differs from many of Disney's traditional female protagonists and the second being the family values that I feel Mulan emphasizes throughout the film.

Throughout the 1989 to 1999 decade, the majority of Disney's female protagonists from the have been princesses or became princesses after marrying the male protagonist. Mulan is not of royal descent nor does she marry into royalty at the end of the film. Mulan goes impersonates as a man in the army in order to ensure that her father does not have to go to war. Mulan undergoes the exact training as every other male recruit, even besting some of them. To the friends she has made in the film, this enforces the idea that she is their equal. This idea is reinforced later on in the movie when Mulan calls her friends and they disguise themselves as women in order to defeat the enemy. Mulan ultimately defeats the enemy as a woman, and is honoured by China when she succeeds. I believe that Mulan ultimately presents many feministic values; among them being female equality and overcoming the “glass ceiling”. When Mulan shows the world what she has done, she has introduced the idea that woman are just as capable as anyone else, when given the opportunity.

In this movie, viewers are introduced to the idea that Mulan is a young woman who aims only to honour her family. During the time the movie was set, Chinese women could only bring honour to their family through their marriages. However, Mulan is made to feel that she is a disgrace to her family and will be unable to fulfill her duty. At the end of movie, viewers are shown this brave, young woman was able to save China. The Emperor is willing to bestow a role in his council, acknowledging Mulan for her own worth. Instead, Mulan chooses to return home. Mulan consistently emphasizes the importance of family in this film an Mulan is able to make up for her disappointment as “marriage material” earlier in the movie. Mulan takes the Emperor's crest and the sword home to show her family what she has earned for them. When Mulan returns and tries to share the honour with her father, he is simply relieved she is home and well. Mulan's father then says Mulan is the greatest honour he could ever have hoped for.

Mulan does not undermine any traditional beliefs nor does it show any negative impact on feminism or the role of women. Mulan is a courageous, young woman who wanted to do right by her family. Her return home was not one of submission, but a choice she made of her own free will. Mulan succeeds in saving China as both a man and woman. It is when she is herself that she is truly successful and that is the message that audiences should take from this movie.