Gender Bias and the Power Shaping: An Analysis of Female Characters in the Film Ne Zha 2

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the four female characters in the film Ne Zha 2 -Lady Yin, Crane Girl, Ao Run, and Lady Shiji-by exploring the ways in which their roles are presented in the film, it reveals how traditional gender biases and societal expectations affect women's position in the power structure.Lady Yin, as a mother and female general, is marginalized as a sacrificial character in the story despite her leadership.Crane Girl has a high status among the divine attendants, yet remains as a subordinate to the male characters, reflecting a clear gender hierarchical order.The characters of Ao Run and Lady Shiji also present different gendered behaviors and dilemmas, demonstrating the invisible limitations of women in power struggles in traditional Chinese culture.This paper argues that these female role settings reflect deeper social gender norms and contribute to gender bias in contemporary media.