Morgan Tondreault

COM207
Johnson
26 November 2012
Movie Analysis Paper
Family Values and the Struggle Between Generations
When each of us is born, we are given a set of values and ideals by our family, a suitcase
so to speak. In our lifetime we may decide to open up that suitcase, and decide whether or not we
agree with those ideals and why we may or may not. We may also decide to just accept what we
have been raised to believe and not question it. Families have also changed over time, especially
with gender roles and globalization. Although there has been this evolution, there also tends to
be a gap between generations when it comes to ideals because of these factors. Over time,
families have been influenced by the evolution of gender roles and globalization, as well as the
occurrence of an individual going through their suitcase. The movie Bend it Like Beckham
effectively represented these concepts and their impact on families.
Bend it Like Beckham is a story about an Indian girl growing up in England and her
struggles with her very traditional Indian family. The daughter, Jess, wants to play soccer and is
offered a spot on a womens team. Her family is very much against it because they believe a
womans place is in the house, taking care of her husband and family. Her mother especially
considers soccer and all sports to be something for men, and it would be vulgar for women to
participate. Jess goes behind her familys back to play the sport, and even though she is caught,
she continues to try to please both her parents and her team. By the end of the movie, her father
lets her leave her sisters wedding to play in the final match, in which she wins and is offered a
scholarship to go play in America. She has to persuade her parents to see her side, and they get
past their traditional ways and allow her to go play in the states, defying many Indian norms.

The evolution of gender roles greatly impacts the family dynamic, especially the
evolution of the womans role in the world and in the family. Not so long ago, women were
commonly found at home, working as a nurse, teacher, or assistant. Nowadays, women are
starting their own companies and working right alongside men. For the family, this means that
children are open to the idea that they can pursue whichever career theyd like, such as a
professional athlete, and it also means that moms arent always staying home to raise the kids.
This evolution now means that women can start a family on their own and have careers along
with having kids. This communicates to the younger generations and children that women are
independent and it helps erase or lessen stereotypes about women and gender in general.
Globalization is a complex web of forces and factors that bring people, cultures, cultural
products, and markets, as well as beliefs and practices into increasingly greater proximity to and
interrelationship with one another (Sorrells 32). As for its effect on family, globalization brings
together new traditions and norms, and families then have to decide whether or not to adapt to
these changing values. This can change the family dynamic if one generation chooses to stick
with their traditional values while the other one chooses to adapt. This can either support
communication or stunt it, depending on the family itself.
The idea of the suitcase is that we are given a set of values and opinions when we are
born from our family, and is our choice if we want to go through them and decide which ones we
agree or disagree with. This has a similar effect as globalization when it comes to
communication within the family. If a member of the family goes through their suitcase and
decides there are things in that suitcase that they do not agree with, this could cause trouble
within the unit. However, if communication is used properly, a family can grow closer through
these differences and achieve a better understanding of themselves and those around them.

In the scene where Mrs. Bhamra scolds her daughter after finding her playing soccer in
the park, with boys no less, the difference in opinions about gender roles, specifically for
women, come into light. Jess parents believe that a womans place is in the home, taking care
for her husband and family. They do not approve of her going out and playing sports, something
that is considered very masculine and unattractive on a girl. Her mother is much more concerned
about teaching Jess how to cook a full Punjabi dinner and finding her a traditional Indian boy to
marry. She also says how no Indian boy will want a wife who kicks a ball around, and how she
needs to act like a proper woman. Jess does not verbally communicate her disagreement much,
she only tries to interject with a few buts, although they go unheard. She better shows her
anger in her nonverbal communication. She averts her eyes from her mother, the one yelling at
her, her posture is slouched, and she is frowning. She gives off many cues that she is not really
listening to her mothers criticisms.
Jess and her parents disagreement on a womans roles in society is clearly on display
here. Gender roles over time have changed families in many ways. Women are no longer staying
at home and taking care of the children while their husbands are at work, instead they are out
there earning just as much or more than their significant others. The idea of women in the
workplace is a foreign one to Jess parents, and to many traditional Indian families. Jess
rebellion against these traditional ideals has not only angered her parents, but in their mind, she
has brought dishonor on her family as well. In the scene as a whole, Jess mother fails to be open
to Jess idea of gender roles, but at the same time Jess fails to communicate her opinions on what
it means to be a modern day woman. It is unsure whether or not Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra would
have been open to Jess ideas, but the opportunity is not there because Jess chose to be
submissive and not stand up for herself.

This scene also demonstrates how globalization has affected families and their
communication. Immigration is a large part of globalization, and with immigration comes either
the changes or cementation of traditional ideals. In the movie, Jess parents are Indian
immigrants who have immigrated to England. Westernization of cultures has also pushed Anglo
characteristics onto Eastern cultures, such as fairer skin. In the same scene, Mrs. Bhamra
complains about how Jess skin has gotten darker due to her playing out in the sun. Her mother
believes that a fairer girl is a prettier, more eligible girl, and this is part of how Western culture
has influenced others around it. In contrast, Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra are not affected by
globalization when it comes to showing skin. When Jess mom finds her playing soccer in the
park, she is appalled of how Jess is only in a t-shirt and shorts, and showing the scar on her thigh.
Another issue is that how Mr. Bhamra feels about Jess playing soccer, and how his
feelings have been affected by his immigration to England. Later on in the film, her father tells
her coach about how when he was in India, he was a great cricket player, but when he moved to
England, he was not permitted to play because of his ethnicity. Mr. Bhamra is concerned that
Jess will be receive the same discrimination if she were to try to play soccer competitively.
Although globalization can bring cultures together, it can also segregate them by using
stereotypes. Even though the times had changed since her father first moved to Europe, Jess is
still not permitted to play.
Globalization has also affected media, which has in turn affected how families
communicate and influences the differences between generations. In the film, media introduces
Jess to soccer and David Beckham, her idol. On the flip side, the traditional Indian shows aired
on English television also cement her mothers ideals not only in her mother, but also Jess. This
clash of ideas possibly led to the clash between Jess and her parents. Although media is not

portrayed in this particular scene, it is shown in others that her mother is very intent on only
watching traditional television, even when her husband wants to catch up on sports. Jess room is
also filled with David Beckham posters and memorabilia, encouraged by things she has seen on
television and the Internet. Interestingly enough, Jess was not introduced to so much Western
media to introduce her to the idea of female soccer clubs. She was unaware they existed, but
after her friend Jules told her, she ended up seeing it on the television while out of her own
home. This media influenced Jess even more in her dreams, and eventually aided her argument
against her parents that women should be able to play soccer.
All these things are ideas and customs that are put into ones suitcase when they are
born. In the scene, it is clear what ideas and values Jess is given when she is born, her mother
reminds her of them. Jess lack of guilt shows that she has already gone through them and has
decided which ones she does and does not agree with. It is clear throughout the film that even
though Jess wants to please her parents, she also wants to be able to do what she wants to do,
even if that means doing something that isnt traditional. Jess also shows her belief that her
actions and decisions should not affect how her family is viewed, especially when it comes to her
sisters engagement. By Jess opening up her suitcase, this opened up the conversation between
her and her family about what is best for Jess. Unfortunately this conversation did not happen
until the end of the movie, showing just how poor communication was between Jess and her
parents.
Throughout this essay, I have explained how the evolution of gender roles, globalization,
and personal suitcases have influenced and affected families communication and families in
general. As women have gained more equality in the world, the ideas of gender roles have
changed and challenged older, traditional family ideals. Now these ideals may be contested by

the younger generations and rewritten for future ones. Globalization has affected families by
immigration and mass media, as well as westernization. This phenomenon has changed cultures,
but it has also made cultures stronger and more central. As cultures adapt and change, the
families within them must either agree to change with it or fight to stay traditional. This has
affected also how families communicate with each other between generations and family
members. Out personal suitcases also influence how we communicate and what we choose to
communicate about. Bend it Like Beckham did a good job of representing these three concepts of
communication and family.

Works Cited
Bend It like Beckham. Dir. Gurinder Chadha. By Gurinder Chadha. Perf. Parminder Nagra and
Keira Knightley. Kintop Pictures, 2002. DVD.
Sorrells, Kathryn. "Chapter 2: Understanding the Context of Globalization." Intercultural
Communication: Globalization and Social Justice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2013.
25-50. Print.