Mulan

Mulan has always been one of my favorite Disney movies. From the wonderful song of "I'll Make a Man out of You" to the breaking of gender norms, these all contribute to the greatness that this movie possesses. The Disney movie, Mulan, is based on the Chinese folklore Fa Mu Lan. Although there are some differing points, such as how Mulan fights the Hun while Fa Mu Lan fights the greedy "baron [when] he was counting his money, his fat ringed fingers playing over the abacus" (Kingston 43). However the overlying concept is the same, women can be more than just wives of slaves, or as Kingston would say "maggots in the rice" (43).  As a kid, I always loved movies where the good guy defeated the bad guys and saved the day (pretty much every children's movie). This Disney movie was one of the first Disney movies that portrayed a female who did not seek the help of a male character, but, as expected, there still is romance in the movie. However, unlike the princess movies that preceded it, Mulan did not change herself in order to receive the affection of some silly boy. Instead, she earns his affection through her quick wits, creative thinking, hard working attitude, and courage. Another thing that I like about the movie is that not only does it show women as capable of being a woman warrior, but it also shows that men don't always have to act so masculine. There is a scene where Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po dress as women in order to seduce the Hun guards. This is a true example of Hook's definition of feminism, eliminating all forms of sexism in society.In my opinion, Mulan is, and always will be, one of the best Disney movies ever created and hopefully has inspired people to stand up against gender stereotypes as well as support feminism.

Music Video of "I'll Make A Man Out Of You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqta4jyAs4k