Jess, an Indian, English woman with a talent for football, faced with a choice of whether to be herself or disobey her parents. Accepted in an all women's football club, Jess has to overcome obstacles that block her from her goal of playing professional football, such as her family, gender discrimination and cultural and generational differences.
A conflict in “Bend it like Beckham” which helps us understand the relationship between a central character, Jess and her mother Mrs Bhamra, is when Jess disobeys her mother and tries to bend the gender roles . The film set in modern day, West London, explores the problematic relationship between Jess and her parents after she disobeys her parents over playing football. The film portrays Jess’ struggle
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This shows us the extent Jess is prepared to go for football. Unintentionally, Jess soon starts to bend the gender roles as the issue of football is still present. In one kitchen scene, Jess displays her passion for football and visually shows her desire to go against the gender roles. In the scene, Jess shows her blatant disregard of her mother's enthusiasm to cooking by treating multiple vegetables as a football. This shows her boredom with domestic chores and her lack her enthusiasm to learning her mother's ways. The full body shot of the two shows more than just Jess’ movement and her Mother’s expressions but also emphasises going against the normal gender roles. The gender roles idea also can relate back to the title “Bend it like Beckham”, The title can literally mean that Jess is “bending the ball” just like David Beckham, but it can also metaphorically mean Jess “bending” the gender roles. Bending the gender roles and being disobedient due to football, Jess …show more content…
Coming closer to Pinky’s (Jess Sister) wedding, Jess concludes that the only way to keep her family relationship stable is by not lying to them. With this Jess doesn’t attend practices leading up to the very important tournament game but is preparing for her sister's wedding. Showing more Indian aspects at that point of the film , Jess starts to evolve into a “proper” woman that her parents intended for her to be. However, the sadness and discomfort shown on Jess face, indicates that she is not happy with her decision and soon her father realises this too. During Pinky’s wedding, Jess refuses to go to the football tournament as she stresses that it would worry her whole family. Seeing this as an opportunity to have both daughters happy, Mr Bhamra approves of Jess going to the football tournament, claiming he would like to see “both his daughters happy on the same day”. This approval is a big turning point in the film as Jess is for once not going to a game with the worry of lying and at least her father is accepting her ambition. Winning the game with a penalty shot, Jess returns back to Pinky’s wedding after the victory and is seen to be overjoyed and happy. Later on when Jess discusses that she went to the football match instead of staying at the wedding and with her mother furious, Jess’ father steps in and has dialogue of his approval and why. “
It is no secret that there is an obvious difference of how women are portrayed in the media versus men. This movie discussed female characters never having lead roles and stated that when they did it ended in the women depending on, loving, or having to have a man. One young high school girl said, “Women never play the protagonist. The girls are
The ideal images of female athletes presented in the films for this class have had a strong connection to the images of ideal women in society in general. Like the ideal image of women, there are many variations of the ideal image of female athletes. While Dare to Compete tracked the evolution of the role of the real female athletes, the feature films we watched presented varying views of the ideal female athlete, which has been different in different times and places.
Diana is an excellent illustration of the many struggles of women to find a place for themselves in sports. On an individual level, defying societal stereotypes is extremely difficult. The buriers that the first person must overcome are often extreme. However once the first person breaks down those buriers, it becomes increasingly easier for others to follow in their footsteps. Diana's struggle demonstrates both how far women have come and how far women still have to go.
...t Like Beckham. This film also showed the stereotyping of women's sexual preferences that female women must endure. Another problem that women can face is a lack of venue for their athletic ability. Monica was forced to go overseas in Love and Basketball so that she could play professionally. Fortunately, she did eventually find a way to play in the US. What all these films demonstrate is that the image of women in sports is continually evolving. From the start of Dare to Compete when female athletes were almost unheard of to the present day, there has been change at every step of the way. Hopefully, by the time this century has ended, women will be able to assume their own personal identities, rather than being labeled as a certain 'type' simply because they are athletic. I think the progress we've seen so far is a great indicator that this may someday be possible.
“‘Athletics last for such a short period of time. It ends for people. But while it lasts, it creates this make-believe world where normal rules don’t apply. We build this false atmosphere. When it’s over and the harsh reality sets in, that’s the real joke we play on people’” (Bissinger xiv). “Friday Night Lights” shows the darker side of high school football. Players are taught to play games to win, and thats all that matters. Football players are put under a tremendous amount of pressure, almost enough to be considered unfair. Even though football is a “team sport”, pressure on individual players is unnecessary. Some players have the burden of the team, the city, their family, and their future, resting on their shoulders. These players are put under pressure that is physically and emotionally damaging, not to mention future ruining.
“The Football Factory” is a story about working class youth in Britain, and does not aspire to be anything else. It is a raw, real and often cringe-worthy look at life. It does not judge or overtly try to point the reader in one direction, instead it just lets the reader scope the decisions and actions of the characters on their own. The book focuses mainly on British society, the welfare state, and the divide in classes. The characters represent the white working class in Britain and the choices made by those enveloped in its sociological structure. Tommy is stuck in a circle, with no options or desire to get out. Both the state and the classes have helped mold this cycle that everyone perpetuates. This is the understanding the book provides, an honest look at white, working class youth in Britain.
In this manner, it is clear that these athletes are taking strides towards equality by affecting the future of our society, youth. Though as a society we face many remaining obstacles in striving toward gender equality in sport, it is important to look at what has been accomplished, and also look to the future for what can still be done.
There are two sides to every coin. This is something to keep in mind when examining the topic of gender in sport. Specifically, I am speaking of the costs and benefits of a male or female entering a sport in which he or she is not traditionally accepted for their gender. The two sides to this concept lay not only the individual's sacrifices as the underdog, but also in the benefits the individual encounters on his or her adventure into uncharted territory. Of course, it is a struggle for the individual to become accepted by the sport world, and also the general public. It can be an uphill battle in order for him or her to even be able to participate initially. On the other hand, upon crossing the gender boundary, the individual can earn great recognition. This brings the concept to another level; there are cultural benefits that arise from an individual entering a non-traditional sport for their sex. Three movies that we viewed in the first half of this course have served to demonstrate the individual costs and benefits involved when women become involved in sports that are not traditionally accepting of the female sex. After close analysis of "Girl Fight", "Pumping Iron II", and "Personal Best", effects that these women have on the female culture as a whole, to this day, become clear.
The first perspective is that women are disadvantaged at any sport. Some people reiterate the difference of men and women in sports. This is influenced by strength and the natural power men hold, comparable to women. Rodriguez questions “Is this because female athletes don’t have what it takes to make it in the world of sports or could it be more of a social issue?” This perspective seems to be a social issue based on the notable skills women acquire vs. the apparent judgments of gender issues. The second perspective is the idea that women deserve and inherently earn their right of equal attention and equal pay. “Sometimes, the secret to equality is not positive discrimination, it 's equal terms. It 's the shrug of the shoulders that says "what 's the difference?" The moment worth aspiring for is not seeing people celebrate the world-class female cricketer who competes at comparatively low-level male professional cricket, but the day when people are aware that she does, and don 't find it notable at all” (Lawson). Lawson makes it a point to confirm the biased notions against women in sports and relay an alternative worth working toward and fighting for. Both outlooks can be biased but only one has factual evidence to back it up. The second perspective reviews an ongoing gender issue. This problem is welcome for change depending on society’s
When a woman or man joins a non-traditional sport for their gender or sex, it can have drastic social and cultural costs. These impact not just the individual but also the entire community. When a person challenges the gender roles of society, then they change the perceptions of what men or women are capable of doing, they further androgynize cultural norms, and they open up sports for others.
Gender in sports has been a controversial issue ever since sports were invented. In the early years, sports were played only by the men, and the women were to sit on the sidelines and watch. This was another area of life exemplifying the sexism of people in which women were not allowed to do something that men could. However, over the last century in particular, things have begun to change.
Sexism is a major theme that is present throughout the film. Jess struggles with her environmental surroundings because she lives in an Indian household and faces many cultural barriers. Jules and Jess have the same share of soccer but their parents give them lack of support. This indicates that their parents want their daughter to become a perfect female daughter who likes girly things than being a soccer player. This theme is expressed through Jess’ mother saying “What family would want a daughter-in-law who can run around kicking a football all day but can’t make round chapatis”. The author
One of the theories behind this gender inequality in athletics is due to the strict traditionalism of society. “Society does not like to see women in roles that go against the norm of what a woman ‘should be” (Rodriguez). A woman is expected to carry on traditional feministic traits that include being sexy, delicate, passive, graceful and essentially powerless. “Nowhere does the word ‘athletic’ appear on that list” (Rodriguez). These female athletes are not just exceeding in a sport that they play, they are tearing down the barriers that have always left women on the outside of the world of professional sports. The idea of a strong, athletic woman gives many people an uncomfortable feeling because it is not seen as an attractive trait or loyal to traditional characteristics. This unaccepted view of athletic women has led to unjust stereotyping. If they participate in a sport that is not perceived as feminine, women are often stereotyped as being lesbian. Women who do not fit the cultural definitions of femininity run the risk of being labeled a homosexual. Societal expectations are restrictive and seem to refuse to view the athletic talents of women as acceptable behavior.
Also, the film revealed women empowerment and how superior they can be compared to men. While demonstrating sexual objectification, empowerment, there was also sexual exploitation of the women, shown through the film. Throughout this essay, gender based issues that were associated with the film character will be demonstrated while connecting to the real world and popular culture.
As more people are claiming their rights and being accepted by society, the media is forced to reach the obedience in a modern way. Women are fighting for they equal right and starting to play leading role in movie and TV shows. For example, not so long ago, I watched “She’s the Man” a movie played in 2006 by Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. Byrne’s character, Viola been playing soccer in place of his brother who didn’t want anything to do with soccer or any other sports for that matter. Bynes is really good at soccer and loves sport. She didn’t let herself brake by the tough guys in her team who think she was a man. She subsequently shows the absurdity of gender biases by being the best at what she loves. This type of movie prove there is nothing abnormal to our behavior and it do not make us less of a person when do not conform to norm of