Gender Performativity in Disney’s "Mulan"

Term Paper , 2021 , 8 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Gender Studies

Gender and its meaning are often discussed by anthropologists, feminists, and other researchers. However, the way that each defines the word gender is very different and there seems to be no fixed definition as to when one identifies as man or woman. This problematic, that there are so many different definitions for gender, Judith Butler takes as the center of her work, and tries to explain what they understand behind the notions of sex and gender.

I will therefore base my analysis on Judith Butler’s "Gender Trouble", published in 1990. Butler’s approach is very interesting, as it brings in the notion of culture as well. And because Butler brings in culture, and culture is the subject of anthropological research, I will take some ideas of Lila Abu Lughod’s "Writing Against Culture", published in Recapturing anthropology: working in the present. The anthropological approach will only lead to a better understand of how culture
and gender are so similar, as they are both not innate. The fact that gender is not innate and has to be learned, or as Judith says performed, will be the key idea that I will represent in this paper.

The idea that gender is performed and is a social construction, is clearly represented in Walt Disney’s "Mulan". I will, therefore, use this movie to prove the point that I am aiming to elaborate. My point is that any individual can perform different gender identities and that individuals are able to change their gender. So, gender is not related to the sexual organs or chromosomes one has, but gender is simply a behavior that adapts to its environment and is fluid.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Judith Butler's Notion of Gender Performativity
• Gender Performativity in Disney's Mulan
  • Bring honor to us all
  • Reflection
  • I'll make a man out of you
• The 'reality of gender'
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper aims to explore the concept of gender performativity as described by Judith Butler, using Disney's Mulan as a case study. The paper explores how gender is constructed and performed through cultural expectations and social norms, highlighting the fluidity and adaptable nature of gender identity.

• Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity and its application to cultural representations.
• The social construction of gender and its distinction from biological sex.
• The impact of cultural expectations and social norms on gender performance.
• The portrayal of gender fluidity and the possibility of performing different gender identities.
• The use of Disney's Mulan as a case study to illustrate these concepts.

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: The paper introduces the concept of gender and its various definitions. It highlights Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity as a crucial framework for understanding the social construction of gender.
• Judith Butler's Notion of Gender Performativity: This section delves into Butler's theory, emphasizing the cultural construction of gender and its distinction from biological sex. It discusses the role of repetition and performance in shaping gender identity.
• Gender Performativity in Disney's Mulan: This section analyzes three songs from the film, using Butler's theory to explore how gender is performed through cultural expectations and social norms. The songs highlight the pressure to conform to gender roles and the potential for individuals to transgress them.

Keywords

The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include: gender performativity, Judith Butler, gender identity, social construction of gender, cultural expectations, gender fluidity, Disney's Mulan, and gender roles.

• College: University of Luxembourg
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Sabrina Fiel Abade (Author)
• Publication Year: 2021
• Pages: 8
• Catalog Number: V1183095
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346607027
• Language: English
• Tags: gender, performativity, disney’s, mulan