Mike Pence in 1999 op-ed: Disney’s Mulan is Liberal Propaganda Pence wrote the op-ed before he ran for Congress and when he served as a radio talk show host

This project doesn’t often indulge in politics, but Mike Pence’s 1999 claim that Mulan is liberal propaganda, spun out of nowhere — recently surfaced, due to his nomination as the US Republican Vice Presidential nominee — requires a learned response.

China has had martial heroines longer than almost anywhere on earth. Mulan may have been largely myth, but to suggest it’s made-up propaganda is utter lunacy. There’s a LOT of martial heroines who were just as hardcore as Mulan:

Fu Hao, who was commanding armies in the age of pharaohs.

Princess Pingyang, who helped overthrow the Sui dynasty and inaugurate the Tang (and who’s been featured on here before).

Yim Wing Chun, who created the style of kung fu that Ip Man and Bruce Lee used (and who was also on here before); she was taught, according to tradition, by:

Ng Mui, a legendary martial artist, one of the five great elders.

Fang Qi Niang, who started a branch of martial arts that was one of the chief influences on Yim Wing Chun.

Ching Shih, a prostitute-turned-pirate leader who commanded 70,000 men (also featured on here before).

Qin Liangyu, a Ming dynasty general who fought the Manchus.

Wang Cong’er, who led the White Lotus Rebellion against the Manchus.

Lin Siniang, a prostitute-turned-princess who trained the harem in martial arts

Li Xiu, who, when unexpectedly put into military leadership, held a city out from invading forces for seven years

Sun Shangxiang, badass Han dynasty warrior

Shen Yuying, a Ming dynasty general who took over for her father when he died

Liang Hongyu, a slave who bought herself free and became a fearsome Song dynasty general

And that is just CHINA, and just the women I could list OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. There are so, so, SO many more historical women who’ve seen combat – here’s a long, LONG list for just such occasions!

It’s entirely possible Pence has since evolved his views (one would hope, this is an old claim!) – but regardless, outrageous claims like these deserve to be met with knowledge and facts when they arise.

(fair warning: I haven’t done extensive research into all of these women; legend and history tend to intermingle when you go back too far, so the historicity of a few may be in question.)