When thinking of breaking stereotypes in mainstream media, Mulan is the first movie that always seems to come to my mind. I’ve seen that movie multiple times as a child, and maybe it’s the nostalgia, but I think it holds up today as well. Being a Disney movie, it definitely has its faults. The main premise of Mulan is something that subverts stereotypes, which is that Mulan, in order to protect her family, specifically her father, from getting injured in the war due to his old age, goes in his place to serve in the army. Given the time and setting of the movie, this act itself defies stereotypes attached to gender roles as it shows a woman in a strong role who is willing to do anything to protect her family so she is not defined by the typical confines of the female that are typically represented in Disney movies.
Moving on from the basic plot, Mulan goes through a journey that is both physical and metaphorical. In the physical part of her transformation, throughout the movie, she is seen first as the weak link in the army, but then, because of her will and determination, she transforms herself into a man, which is also reflected in the song that is played during her transformation “I’ll make a man out of you.” This song upholds values of traditional masculinity as it talks about strength and aggression, which are values that are typically associated with men, but the irony of the song is that Mulan is actually a woman disguised as a man, so it shows how traditional masculinity and femininity are constructs that can be broken as Mulan through her creativity, intelligence, and hard work was able to prove her worth in the army as she was the one who ultimately helped defeat the Huns. Another aspect of this song and the movie is the societal expectations attached to being a man. If young girls and boys are shown this movie, they can witness a broader view of gender, which is that a woman can do those things that a man can do, and a man can also be able to show their emotional side as well as those aspects of traditional masculinity attached to being a man without conforming to toxic hegemonic masculinity.
The metaphorical journey of Mulan shows her going through a tough spiritual journey where she discovers herself and her inner strength and resilience. At the beginning of the movie, we see Mulan being dressed up and getting ready to be sent off into the marriage market, but because she doesn’t embody the typical traits associated with femininity, she seems to mess up every step of the way and is questioning who she really is also shown in the song “Reflection.” The song is a reflection of the internal battle going on in Mulan’s head about how she is unable to reconcile how she feels on the inside and how society expects her to act. This can help young girls watching the movie and older women as well by sending the message that, at times, it is hard to reach the level of expectations that society has for women, but it is okay because everyone has to go through their own journey and discover what they want out of life.
Overall, Mulan is a film that showcases a strong female protagonist who challenges the typical view of women in society and, to some extent, the typical view of men in society. It teaches important lessons about self-growth and actualization and that, at times, it is okay not to know what you want but that it is fine to exist in this awkward stage as long as you don’t give up and conform to the tight boundaries that society tries to impose on individuals.