Fa Mu Lan Analysis

Kingston’s mother tells her the story of Fa Mu Lan’s battle with menstruation so that Kingston is able to accept her identity as a woman and the challenges that come with it. Fa Mu Lan, a female character that many people look up to, is a story that was told to many girls. In the story, there is an old couple that trains Fa Mu Lan to become a warrior. When Fa Mu Lan menstruates for the first tell, they explain to her, “You don’t stop shitting and pissing. It’s the same with blood. Let it run” (Kingston 31). Menstruation represents Fa Mu Lan’s womanhood. The old woman teaches her that she has to let her blood flow because she can’t control it. Additionally, her period is a reminder that her identity as a woman cannot be