A Girl Worth Fighting For // Mulan's Masculinity Problem

We all watch Mulan and think its a great, inspiring film for women. But maybe there's a little more to it than that?

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[hereandthere]

“I want a girl that looks beyond, with stars in her eyes!” Would have been a better line for Mulan to say. It would say the same message as a girl that is smart, but also is a dreamer. And if a guy wants a dreamer for a girl, then he would also want her to talk about those dreams, kinda like speaking up her mind?

[korsekil]

Another angle to this song is that it's not just about gender roles, sexism, or all that - it's also the youthful idealism of the recruits seeing war as this glorious game to gain fame and fortune, honor to their families, all that jingoistic fluff. And this is in HUGE contrast to the end, where the music and singing cut off, because they see war as it actually is. Death, desolation, bodies of those you loved or cared about. Villages and towns burned to the ground.

And when Mulan picks up the doll in the village, the context of the "Girl Worth Fighting For" changes. It's no longer about impressing women. "The Girl Worth Fighting For" becomes your mothers, your sisters, your daughters, your friends and family. It's not about the prize of victory, but the horrific price of defeat.

[christopherlewis]

This is actually very insightful. This is why this movie will always be better than the live-action version.

[annefagan]

Okay, this was lovely. I really loved watching this, but a quick defense for Mulan: wouldn’t it make sense that she would try to contribute a “desirable” trait in women but totally miss the mark because she *is* a woman? She can’t fully participate in this song because she’s not a man, she doesn’t know the intimate desires of a man’s heart. So I don’t think her input was really meant to undermine the simple and wholesome desires of these characters, but maybe it was meant to show just how little men and women really understand each other?

[Cloverien]

I LOVE MULAN!! GREAT VIDEO!! I AM 71 YEARS OLD AND I LOVE MULAN!! I WAS THERE WHEN MULAN HAPPENED!! GREAT VIDEO MAN!!

[Kagomai]

She says what she says because she's a straight girl and who can't relate to being a guy who wants to date a girl, so she's like idk man, what would I want in a girl, someone like me I guess? A friend?? I think she's trying to relate to them, she's not trying to be mean. I just mean that I also related to being someone who is not a boy who wants to date girls. Being aroace, I am also someone who just couldn't understand why anyone wanted romantic partners to begin with, so I struggled to relate when people would open up to me about their desires for love. Maybe that's the wrong read, but I feel it

Anyway I agree with you and I did learn a lot from your take, thank you for sharing it!

[avamay]

Mulan's doing the same thing as everyone else in this song, except her line isn't nearly as well-phrased as theirs. As the movie constantly tells us, she's used to her opinion being shut down by everyone around her. So she's looking for someone who wants her to have her own opinions, and values her for them.

[peterkleve]

a criminally underrated video and channel jfc. Thank you algorithm for giving me Mister Sweet

[natalieesdaille]

Oh my gosh I'm learning about men. This is actually really exciting.
Great video by the way!

[justaguywithamoustache]

having a midday drink, perfect timing man.

[juanmanuelpenaloza]

Basically...we just want someone to be naked with.

You can interpret that however you want.

[MrBoo-djyk]

Thanks for expending my anime catalogue Mister Sweet

[starrkimkimchi]

Yeah I actually always interpreted that way too can never figure out why other people said it was the worst song I thought it was the best

[maismais]

I am a millennial woman and growing up I had to be exposed to 2 extremes of what masculinity is or should be etc, you know what I'm talking about!
This is clean and balanced (as all things should be)

[ArtamisBot]

Hahahahaha so funny and wholesome... I agree with your interpretation except at Mulan's part, I personally like those qualities in a human partner. I think that smart people who like long intellectual debates are great company.

[susans]

Very insightful. I appreciate the perspective.

[GsusCrust]

I love this song, glad someone does too.

[Disconnected]

wisest words I’ve heard from someone on this website for a good while

[koostheron]

can we talk about how all the men were reminded about the real girl worth fighting for? all the clips of the song ends before the desroyed village can be showed, hence we can not see the real girl worth fighting for that at the end of the day was the innocent people represented by the discarded doll. Yes its a downer part but my personal opinion is its shows how men can dream about what they want, but at the end of the day they know what is right. And that is why my heart breaks a little each time I see that doll.

[TheMounten]

I’m honestly really enjoying the content of your videos, I hope your channel gets more attention