Table of contentsIntroductionSociological themes in "Mulan"ConclusionWorks citedIntroductionIn ancient China, the story of a young woman named Mulan takes place. Her family, looking for a suitable partner, consults a matchmaker who, after observing Mulan, judges her to be too thin and unsuitable for marriage. The matchmaker insists that men desire small and docile women, calling Mulan a shame for defying traditional feminine norms of poise and grace. Feeling lost and struggling to find herself, Mulan embarks on a remarkable journey. Disguised as a man, she takes her father's place in the army. At first, she struggles to fit in and train alongside her fellow soldiers. During a battle against the Huns, Mulan's clever tactics cause an avalanche, thwarting the enemy's advance. However, she suffers an injury and her true gender is revealed. She is then kicked out of the army and sent home. On her way, she discovers that the Huns have survived the avalanche and are heading towards the imperial city. Although initially ignored, Mulan persists in her efforts to warn the city, ultimately saving the emperor. Her courage allows her to be forgiven for her deception and she returns home a heroine and finds love with the captain. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Sociological Themes in “Mulan” “Mulan,” a Disney animated film set in ancient China, explores the journey of 'a young woman who disguises herself as a child, to take her father's place in the army. The story revolves around his struggle to discover his true identity and place in society. The film also explores sociological concepts such as gender roles, culture and conflict theory. Gender roles, a pervasive sociological concept, feature prominently in the film. Gender roles encompass society's perceptions of how men and women should behave, think, and act. The film effectively depicts gender socialization, a form of social control. In one poignant scene, when Mulan visits the matchmaker, she is immediately criticized for her appearance and is presented with a list of qualities required to be a suitable wife. In ancient times, women were primarily expected to bear children, do household chores, and serve their husbands. The film highlights that women were reduced to wives and were often evaluated based on their physical appearance rather than their inner qualities. This portrayal can lead young viewers to mistakenly believe that outer beauty is more important than inner beauty. The film suggests the dominance of men in society and their role as providers of the family. When Mulan begs the general not to allow her father to fight in the war, the general reprimands her, saying, "Teach your daughter to hold her tongue in the presence of a man." This implies that women were not allowed to speak in front of men. This representation reinforces inequality between the sexes and the societal inferiority attributed to women. The film explicitly conveys this message by depicting the general's decision to allow only men to participate in the war. In contrast, women were seen as the weaker sex, as evidenced by Mulan's failed attempt to join the military due to her gender. This sexism highlights the cultural factors that led Mulan to disguise herself as a man. The film also touches on the concept of culture, as the setting of ancient China..