“Ghost in the Shell”

                Ghost in the Shell, an animated film, reflects women’s identities and their relationship with men in society. The story of the film describes the battles of the Japanese National Public Commission known as Section 9 against criminals and illegal associations. Motoko Kusanagi, a main character of the film, is built as a cyborg soldier, which gains a superhuman power. Kusanagi’s exceptional physical strength helps Section 9 capture and execute criminals. In Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii, the director of the film, stresses the limitations of women’s physical strengths in the battle field through describing Kusanagi.  

            Oshii illustrates that women’s belief and desire of having equal power with men’s can be denied especially in the battle field. Kusanagi appears as a female cyborg, which body is structured as a female and constructed with machines in inside of its body. The characterization of Kusanagi as a female cyborg becomes the crucial point, which explains the limitations that women have.

Throughout the decades, women have gained their rights and power in the fields of academic, politics, media, and business. If someone says “you cannot do this because you are a woman” without giving explanations and examples of what make the one think that way, the one will create enemies oppose against the comment. Oshii shows that women can become powerful enough to fight and beat the enemies only if they become a cyborg.  Kusanagi plays a significant role to explain the limitation of women’s physical strengths in the battle field.

Today, women have become powerful and influential in society. For example, Condoleezza Rice became one of the most distinguished secretaries in the U.S. Rice’s outstanding performances in academics and politics have demonstrated the power and capabilities of women. But is she capable to carry a heavy weapon and run in the battle ground? Are there any female war heroes in the U.S. history? If you say, “women are less than men,” you will be in a big trouble opposed by society, unless you particularly point out “women are less than men in terms of their physical strengths.” Oshii proves that the limitations that women have in their body functions comparing to men’s in Ghost in the Shell.