Reimagining Traditional Chinese Folktales: A Feminist Literary Critique of Mulan

Abstract

This paper critically analyzes the evolving portrayals of Mulan through the lens of gender performativity, intersectionality, and postcolonial feminism. Using content and discourse analysis, the study compares the original Chinese Ballad of Mulan with Disney’s 1998 animated and 2020 live-action adaptations. Mulan’s gender performance, situated at the intersection of culture, identity, and power, is interpreted differently across societies. Western audiences largely view her as a feminist icon, while Eastern critiques emphasize her deviation from filial and cultural norms. The study reveals how global feminist ideals often clash with indigenous values, complicating efforts to construct universally accepted feminist narratives. Mulan emerges as a contested symbol of empowerment, identity, and cultural negotiation in intersectionality.