Are the Disney Princesses Good Role Models? Part 8: Mulan

Mulan is easily the Disney Princess deemed the most feminist. After all, she did fight in a fucking war and became the hero of all of China. 

The only criticism I have ever heard of Mulan not being feminist is that she had to become a man in order to save China. But that's blatantly false. Mulan had to dress and act like a man in order to join the army in her father's place. But during the final battle scene at the palace, she is out of her military uniform. She faces Shan Yu as Mulan, not as Ping. Additionally, all the other men in the troop are dressed up as women to sneak into the palace. They climb, kick, and punch in dresses and makeup, just like how Mulan had to bind her chest and talk in a low voice while fighting earlier battles. Also, Mulan defeats Shan Yu with her fan. Fans are a symbol of femininity, while swords are a symbol of masculinity. Mulan literally defeats the bad guy with femininity. She doesn't have to abandon her womanhood to win. 

However, I don't think the whole "fought in a war" angle is the reason why Mulan is a feminist icon.  She even says in her movie, "Maybe I didn't go for my father. Maybe what I really wanted was to prove I could do things right, so when I looked in the mirror, I'd see someone worthwhile." Mulan didn't want her worth to be based on how much money her family has or how pretty she looks. She wanted her worth to come from her own accomplishments. 

 Mulan is a feminist icon because she diverts societal expectations by stepping out of her gender role. And it's difficult for her because she wants to please her family whom she loves but she also wants to be free to find happiness her way.  In Mulan's society, women are expected to act a certain way. She's not allowed to have an opinion on things. She has to wear uncomfortable clothes and serve others before herself.  Early in the movie, whenever she steps outside of her expected role she receives a lot of backlash. She is yelled at, insulted and treated less than. Today laws regarding gender roles may not be as strict as they once were, but the societal expectations still run deep. Women do not have to dress a certain way, act a certain way, or like certain things to be considered valuable. 

Throughout the movie, we watch Mulan blossom from an intimidated and awkward girl to a confident and capable woman. And the capability was always there - she is shown as clever at the very beginning of the movie when she efficiently feeds the farm animals by tying a bag of food to her dog as he runs around the farm. But once she was given the chance to show her potential, she truly thrived.  Mulan shows young girls that sometimes, proving your strength to yourself is more important than proving it to anyone else.