...(don't worry, it's not homework)? Well, I just ended a disastrous foray into the Gender Studies section and was immediately attacked by Femi Nazis who thought I was a male chauvinist pig (I am a female by the way). Also, in case you were wondering, no it is not a homework question. I am currently reading A Doll's House for Ap English 4 and the only homework is just to read, so relax. You are not doing a high schooler's homework, I just honestly want to discuss this with someone.
Anywhoo, here is what I posted:
I often hear Mulan used as an example of a kick-*** woman who broke down all barriers and eventually forced men to see her brilliance by taking down her Eastern heritage. The focus has always been on her gender, and the greatest deal is made on the fact that she is female and doing these things. There is a very clear injection of Western-style thinking in discussions of this legend, that I've always been irritated by.
The legend of Mulan originally had Mulan dueling her father to convince him to let her serve in his place. She fights for years, and rises through the ranks quickly because of her cunning and military prowess - she is a fierce and brutal fighter, a side that we never see in Western retellings. When she is finally revealed to be a woman, there is no giant uproar against her to strip her of her awards and achievements. People simply take the news as though it were no big news at all - she had already won her immunity to such criticism by 1) actually serving in her father's place out of deep filial piety, the single most valued virtue in Chinese culture 2) serving her country to the best of her abilities. It didn't matter in the end whether or not she was female, because the legend is supposed to show how filial piety and loyalty to country are duties that transcend gender. This message, I would say, is even more positive.
Do you think that the change made in the Disney movie, which was subsequently adopted by feminists and mistakenly though of how "it should be", was necessary? Was the Disney movie message in any way better than the message in the original legend?
Anywhoo, here is what I posted:
I often hear Mulan used as an example of a kick-*** woman who broke down all barriers and eventually forced men to see her brilliance by taking down her Eastern heritage. The focus has always been on her gender, and the greatest deal is made on the fact that she is female and doing these things. There is a very clear injection of Western-style thinking in discussions of this legend, that I've always been irritated by.
The legend of Mulan originally had Mulan dueling her father to convince him to let her serve in his place. She fights for years, and rises through the ranks quickly because of her cunning and military prowess - she is a fierce and brutal fighter, a side that we never see in Western retellings. When she is finally revealed to be a woman, there is no giant uproar against her to strip her of her awards and achievements. People simply take the news as though it were no big news at all - she had already won her immunity to such criticism by 1) actually serving in her father's place out of deep filial piety, the single most valued virtue in Chinese culture 2) serving her country to the best of her abilities. It didn't matter in the end whether or not she was female, because the legend is supposed to show how filial piety and loyalty to country are duties that transcend gender. This message, I would say, is even more positive.
Do you think that the change made in the Disney movie, which was subsequently adopted by feminists and mistakenly though of how "it should be", was necessary? Was the Disney movie message in any way better than the message in the original legend?