Defying Gender Stereotypes in "Your Name"

 

Your Name is a fantasy movie that explores what would happen if two teenagers suddenly switched bodies. This movie follows the lives of two characters, Mitsuha and Taki, and how their lives change when their bodies randomly swaps back and forth. When Mitsuha and Taki are in their own respective bodies, they display numerous common gender tropes: Mitsuha is portrayed as a sympathetic and neat girl, while Taki is shown as a short-tempered and brash boy. Since the characters awoke with different genders, but the same personality, their actions go against conventional gender roles.

For instance, Mitsuha suddenly becomes extremely talented at basketball-- defeating everyone on her school team.

Taki fixes his coworker’s skirt by stitching and embroidering it. This not only strengthens his relationship with his coworker but also impresses everyone around him.

Mitsuha acts brash and assertive in front of her best friend.

Mitsuha acts brash and assertive in front of her best friend, something completely different from her reserved personality.

Another key theme this movie explores is how society perceives men with feminine characteristics and women with masculine traits. After Mitsuha showcased her newly gained basketball skills, she won the admiration of both her male and female classmates. Similarly, after Taki fixed Mitsuha’s (his coworker) skirt, Mitsuha stated that it was nice that he had a feminine side as well. 

Although people around Mitsuha and Taki were initially thrown off by their sudden personality change, they wholeheartedly embraced these adjustments. In fact, Mitsuha and Taki gained even more respect from their friends, since they were able to defy traditional gender norms and showcase traits that are rarely portrayed in Asian culture.