Disney's Movie Mulan

Introduction:

My chosen text is Disney's movie Mulan which is about a girl warrior who disguises herself as a man to fight in China's Imperial Army against the invaders. Mulan is a beautiful and clever woman however she can't conform to her society's standard about how women are supposed to be. She joins the army to replace her father's place because he is too sick to fight. As she joins the army she found her true self and proved her worth outside of her traditional bound society.

* The movie explores the identity of traditional women in ancient china and how they are categorised against men.

I. In ancient china or even up to present, family life is the vocation of women. Their duties and responsibilities are to take care of their husbands, nurture children and do housework such as cleaning and cooking.

II. While the responsibility of men is to work outside for instance, culturing crops.

III. Women must also follow so many values that are imposed to them, for instance, women must hold their tongue in men's presence. This is shown in the movie (show the clip 14:45-58). In this scene, it clearly shows that women don't have the right to speak and say their opinion, they don't have the freedom of speech and it also shows the superiority of men and how women are oppressed.

* Mulan as a woman and daughter of her parents, she is expected to be a perfect bride in order to bring honour to her family.

I. But even though she tried to be that person who they want her to be, things don't work out well for her.

II. She has been rejected by the local matchmaker who makes cruel remarks on Mulan's performance.

III. After that, Mulan begins to think deeply about her true identity which is reflected through the theme song reflection.

IV. In the song, it is illustrated the contradiction in Mulan's heart, namely, being willing to be a dutiful daughter in her parent's eyes and desiring to be her true self who is an independent individual.

* However, the text suggests some disadvantages of having a clear identity and sense of belonging.

I. It states in the song reflection that if Mulan were to be her true self, she would break her family's heart.

II. If she doesn't follow the society's bound tradition of being a traditional woman which is mentioned earlier she would greatly disappoint her parents and she would be a disgrace. Her family's name would be put in shame.

III. She cannot be her true self because it is not accepted in her society. She doesn't