Moana and Mulan: Race and Gender Essay Example

a conversation with her father, he mentions to her that she will replace him and lead the people.

“You are the future of our people Moana they are not out there, but they are right here. Now it's time to be who they need you to be.” (Moana). Unlike the princesses in most Disney movies, Moana had a high leadership character which her father the chief attested. She was brave, which is proven after going for the quest with the demigod and was quick in solving problems.

Through her character, Moana points out that what a man can do, a woman can do it too. In her community, Moana becomes the first woman to cross the ocean and sail the boat. Her father had forbidden her to cross the ocean because it was not allowed, but to prove that she could do it despite her gender she sailed and crossed the ocean.

She depicts the voice of the woman in society today. Moana’s power in the movie shows that she is strong and all the things that the mighty Maui could do, she can perform them too. The movie depicts Moana as a young female heroine, who leads the village at the age of 16. Despite having other female and male personalities in the village, Moana becomes the first woman to become chief after her father. Moana proved that she could protect herself even as a woman. During her adventure in restoring the heart of Tefiti, she fought Kakamora who had stolen the heart of Tefiti and reclaimed it. This picture of her bravery is rare in most social situations and in different films.

From the character and actions

of Moana, one finds out that she is different from other Disney princesses. Her character reflected the behavioral changes in towards gender. She was portrayed as a unique, brave and ambitious woman instead of a blond princess living in a palace, always wearing a dress sweeping the floor, surrounded by royalty waiting for her handsome prince. Moana had the dream and a mission of reclaiming Tefiti's heart which would save the Island from the darkness (Movie, in Moana). She succeeded in her mission.

In the song 'How far I'll go,' Moana sings of wanting to know where she draws the line in getting her quest fulfilled. She likens the song's lyrics to her motivation of exploring the ocean (Moana). Moana keeps in mind that life involves more than surviving and having the family provide with what she needs. She desires to be part of the natural world and give back through her connections with it. Moana knows the difference she has with her family and community, and she appreciates that but feels the urge to forge a new identity for her family and the community, one that will connect her to the world.

Mulan, on the other hand, presents as a movie that has breaking conventional gender roles and boundaries. Mulan, the hero in the movie, is a strong and aggressive male who breaks the traditional role of most Disney movies of the princess as the dainty and focused on marriage (Mulan). However, the movie in does a bad way in deconstructing a bad idea on gender. In the film, Mulan is forced to give up her femininity, pretend to be a man to gain respect from

the others.

This role is not an excellent deconstructing because the movie implies that femininity is bad and Mulan devalues femininity rather than celebrating it in different ways (Morrison, 7). The movie suggests that the only way of a woman in performing traditional role is if they are masculine. Unlike Mulan, Moana did not have to change her femininity. Instead, she respected her gender and had the right to follow the path that she wanted. Mulan reinforces the harmful idea which most Disney films delivers that marriage if the way that women fund meaning and live happy lives.

Patriarchy in the society shows that women are inferior and their free will belongs to men, but Moana fights this patriarchal message. She fights against the societal roles that constrain women in traditional roles and breaks free to follow her heart desires. Moana is a big step for Disney towards a positive women representation and upholding of the gender roles. Unlike Mulan, it takes the positive element, of a strong female and portrays women as the controller of their destinies without having to depend on someone else.

During one of the scenes, Tala tells Moana on failure and how no one can achieve success without failing a couple of times. Tala tells her granddaughter that although sometimes the world may seem like it is going in the complete direction and sometimes the journey leaves a scar. But what is important is that the scar heals, and one uses it to reveal their true identities and their true self. Moana like an ordinary human being, she is the sum of her failures and the lessons accrued from all of them.

Viewing Moan

through a feminist lens, the movie offers the main character the chance to showcase her physical strength and adventuring aptitude (Habib). It also provides her with the chance to succeed without failing to show that one struggles before reaching to the top. Through her adventures during her journey, Moana becomes the innocent warrior that her father has in mind and expects to rule the others. She is a young woman who has the courage of a worrier and is innocence when it comes to clarity or intelligence. While most Disney movies have the princess shun their societies to fulfill their needs, Moana creates a new identity, changes the rules based on her heritage and family.

Moana brings the visions on how female empowerment at work has changed in the society over the last century. She depicts the hard-working woman who takes the leadership role despite her gender and age, risks everything to save her family and community from the coming darkness. In most of the films such as the Cinderella, women are always portrayed as weak and who avoid working. For the current society, this depiction is dangerous and unrewarding.

Film industries should protect, rescue and defend female characters from the world where they are seen as inferior to the male gender. Most Disney movies will give the female characters the role of a caregiver. Moana also has some of the roles provided for the rest of the women in the field. Moana’s mother, for example, is a mother, who is there to protect her young from the dangerous world. In this movie, she is supportive of Moana’s decision and is seen helping her pack for her

journey to fulfill the quests.

Although Mulan offers the same character of the female as fiercely independent women, she does not openly own up to being a woman. She must pose in the Chinese Army dressed like a man to enter the world of her father. However, her heroism is cut short when she turns down the offer to enter permanent work and become part of the inner circle of the emperor. Instead, Mulan returns to the village.

Both the films show that strength is not about physicality but having the emotional intelligence in understanding one true self, show flexibility in it and have the courage to express it to the world despite the culture, gender, sexuality or race of an individual.

Works Cited

1. Habib, Rafey. Modern literary criticism and theory: a history. John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Lewis, Rachel Priya. 'Changing Trends: A Change in The Depiction of Women from Idealistic to the Realistic.'
2. English Studies International Research Journal: ISSN: 2347-3479. Moana Movie. (2016). Retrieved from https://www4.fmovies.to/film/moana.w1z44/88qk0o Morrison, Danielle. 'Brave: A Feminist Perspective on the Disney Princess Movie.' (2014).
3. The movie, In Moana. Gender Stereotype and Performativity. Diss. State University of Medan, 2017. Mulan Movie. (1998). Retrieved from https://www4.fmovies.to/film/mulan.4mmo/km29mw