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It struck me, as Mulan is preparing to meet the matchmaker in the movie, what a difference there is in this Chinese "cinderella story" and the European one.
I know, I know... before you jump on me for taking a Disney movie literally, that Disney's movies are LOOSELY based on the traditional stories. I get that.
But even loosely, it's interesting how this Chinese cinderella story is about a young woman that joins the military to fight in place of her father, and becomes famous for coming up with the strategy that ultimately saves China. Whereas, the European cinderella is a scullery maid who gets "discovered" by the prince, and is whisked off to live happily ever after as a princess.
Hmmm...
(Of course, the Disney version of Mulan gets the strong, beautiful man at the end, and therefore enjoys the best of both worlds.)
What strikes me the most about these stories is that China, who is notorious for devaluing women, and even the Disney movie points out that the only way for a woman to bring honor to China is to find a husband and make boy babies, produces this amazing story about a woman that proves her worth as a strong, thinking individual. Yet we, who go on and on about women's rights, and equal this and equal that, still want to believe that to be whisked away by a knight in shining armor, to be spoiled and loved, never to work again is our ultimate fairy tale.
I can understand why young girls might be confused. It seems that we profess one thing, but believe another.
