How does the filmmaker of 'Bend it like Beckham' present issues of culture and gender?

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Duncan Toon

How does the filmmaker of ‘Bend it like Beckham’ present issues of culture and gender?

Culture and gender are the two main issues of ‘Bend it like Beckham’. In this film gender is put across by using sex and religion, but it is much more complex than that. Race, sex, religion and beliefs should not stop you getting a job; or achieving what you want in life. In ‘Bend it like Beckham’ all Jess wants to play football, however because of her religious and cultural beliefs her mom says this is not possible. In this essay I will be discussing the different cultures and genders issues in ‘Bend it like Beckham’.  

Throughout the film Indian beliefs are portrayed by Jess and her family, this is showed by Jesses parents always wearing traditional Indian clothing. Indian music is played throughout the film. Giving the feeling that Jess lives within a family with strong Indian beliefs. It is plain from the beginning and throughout the film Jess and her sister have different ideas how young women should behave, compared to her parent who have strong Indian beliefs. This is often causes conflict in the form of arguments, an example of this is when Jesses mother does not want her play football she wants her to behave like a real Indian lady. By this is meant be a typical Indian housewife, looking after the children and her Indian husband.  In addition to this Jess argues with her mother about her clothes, her mother wants her to wear more traditional clothing, however Jess wants to wear sports clothes. Jules and her mother both have different ideas to how a young woman should act as well. Her mother thinks she should wear make up and dress up. On the other hand Jules wants to wear sport clothes like Jess, plus Jules’s dad encouraging her to play football. Jules mother wants her to get a boy friend and she is scared that she won’t with bigger muscles than him.  The first time Jules’s mother meets Jess she is surprised that she plays football with her religion. Plus she is surprised that her name is Jess in till she finds out her real name is Jesminder.

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Gender is an issue in ‘Bend it like Beckham’ it is shown in mainly ways. Firstly when Jess is playing football in the park and Jules says she is good and she should play for her football team. After this the boys she was playing football with say to Jess and Jules will you take your shirts off at the end of the game. Another gender issue is when her mom finds out jess has been playing football behind her back. Then her mother says an Indian girl should not be playing football, they should be cooking. Finally her ...

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