The Body as a Battlefield: A Feminist Interpretation of Mulan as a Source of Theology in the Face of Gender-Based Violence.

This study examines the 2020 live-action film *Mulan* as a site for feminist theological reflection on gender-based violence, focusing on the concept of "the body as a battlefield." Using Roland Barthes' semiotic method, the analysis highlights how *Mulan* challenges traditional gender roles by portraying a female protagonist who resists patriarchal cultural norms through martial arts, disguise, and participation in war. Drawing on Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite's theology, the study interprets women's bodies as contested spaces where violence and resistance coexist, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging bodily suffering to combat injustice. The article also connects *Mulan*'s narrative to the Indonesian national hero Martha Christina Tiahahu, illustrating a shared theme of women's active roles in struggles against oppression. Overall, the film is presented as a cultural resource that fosters feminist theological discourse and social justice advocacy regarding gender equality and violence.